Agencies

Legal Battle Erupts as Lawsuit Claims Oklahoma Transportation Agencies Ignore 25-Year-Old Law on Turnpike Tolls

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TULSA, Okla. — A lawsuit has been initiated against the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, with claims that the agencies are not adhering to a 25-year-old law concerning tolls on the Will Rogers Turnpike. The suit argues that the agencies should honor the legal requirement stipulating that this section of the highway from Catoosa to Claremore is to be toll-free. Kevin Easley Jr., the attorney representing the case, insists that the agencies must follow the law equally as everyone else is expected to do. Central to the lawsuit is House Bill … Read more

Marin County’s Civil Grand Jury Calls for Increased Transparency Amidst Confusion of Nearly 100 Local Agencies

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San Rafael, California – The latest report from Marin County’s Civil Grand Jury raises pressing concerns about the management of nearly 100 local agencies, which collectively oversee a budget nearing $1 billion and employ over 1,800 individuals. These entities, which include special districts and joint powers authorities, are responsible for vital services such as water, sewer, electricity, police, fire protection, and waste management. The grand jury identified 62 special purpose districts and 37 joint powers authorities that often operate with limited transparency. While larger agencies like Marin Municipal Water District and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail … Read more

Antitrust Agencies Set Sights on Labor: New Task Force Aims to Combat Wage Suppression in Mergers

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Washington, D.C. – The heads of the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are now faced with the challenge of addressing the implications of corporate mergers on labor conditions. In the wake of the 2023 Merger Guidelines, which remain unchanged under the new Republican leadership, the agencies appear to be edging toward a more labor-focused approach in their review processes. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has made headlines by establishing a task force aimed at identifying anticompetitive practices that adversely impact workers. In a memo, Ferguson underlined that antitrust laws … Read more

NLRB Legal Chief Challenges Decades-Old Precedent on Presidential Firing Powers for Independent Agencies

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New York, NY – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may not be protected by a nearly century-old Supreme Court ruling that has generally safeguarded the independence of certain agency officials from presidential dismissal. This view was expressed by the acting general counsel, William Cowen, during a labor and employment law conference held at New York University. Cowen raised concerns about whether the precedent established in the 1935 case, Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, still applies to modern government agencies. The ruling affirmed Congress’s authority to limit the president’s ability to remove members of independent … Read more