The New Code of Conduct for SCOTUS Has No Bite

Trust in the U.S. Supreme Court is at an all-time low. Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress Our Supreme Court Must Uphold the Rule of Law Fact: The Supreme Court is the only federal entity with no enforceable ethical code of conduct. Fact: The Supreme Court’s new code of conduct does absolutely nothing to address unethical conduct. Fact: The new code of conduct uses language that is weaker than existing federal law that applies to Supreme Court justices. This week—after [months]( [of]( [confirmed]( [reporting]( that activist billionaires with business before the Supreme Court have pampered Justices [Clarence Thomas]( and [Samuel Alito]( with free, unreported luxury vacations— the Supreme Court released a [code of conduct](. [Read More]( [A photo of the Supreme Court at dusk. ]( The Supreme Court alleges that the new code will prevent corruption. Unfortunately, the document does nothing to address the ethical issues that have been following the justices and, in fact, appears to be an attempt to weaken the standards in federal law regarding judicial recusals. The Center for American Progress has [long advocated]( for an ethics code for that would: - Govern the receipt of gifts. - Clarify disclosure requirements. - Explain when conflicts of interest necessitate recusals. - Lay out how enforcement would work for a Supreme Court justice. Holding judges accountable for these ethical discrepancies is paramount to these demands and essential to U.S. democracy. Instead, the code of conduct doubles down on avoiding recusals when there is an appearance of ethical impropriety by keeping recusal decisions in the hands of individual judges “[rather than the Court]( It also makes provisions of the [federal code of judicial conduct]( and [federal law]( that apply to lower court judges advisory rather than mandatory. In the end, this code is neither binding nor enforceable when there is an instance of impropriety among the justices. It’s simple: Justices should not be allowed to play by a different set of ethical rules than the rest of the federal government—especially when public trust in the institution is at an [all-time low](. Since Chief Justice John Roberts [is seemingly trying]( to sweep the ongoing appearance of unethical improprieties by Supreme Court justices under the rug, Congress must act. The court is supposed to uphold the rule of law, not flout it. [Read More]( Hold the Justices Accountable Trust in the Supreme Court has been eroded. The ethics code is one solution, but unchecked lifetime appointments are also undermining public trust. Action to improve our nation’s judiciary is necessary. Tell Congress to enact term limits for Supreme Court justices. [Take Action]( Roads, Bridges, and Beyond! The 2-Year Anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Wednesday was the two-year anniversary of President Joe Biden signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, marking a significant bipartisan investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness. In just two years, the Biden administration’s agenda has resulted in groundbreaking projects aimed at fortifying roads, bridges, water systems, internet access, and clean energy initiatives. This anniversary is a reminder of the Biden administration’s dedication to building a better future for all Americans. [A tweet from @amprog reads: Today, we celebrate the two-year anniversary of President Biden signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. The legislation has funded over 40,000 projects across 4,500 communities, and championed progress, created jobs and bolstered our economy.]( [Share Now]( Inflation Is Flat, the Middle Class Grows Great news: Inflation is at a [near]( two-year low. This is part of a downward trend the country has been experiencing for months. This week, the [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]( reported that there was no increase in monthly inflation in October. Core inflation, the Federal Reserve’s preferred metric, dropped to [4 percen]( its lowest point since [September 2021](. Gas and some grocery prices [declined]( last month, as well as the price of used cars and trucks. Let's look at the whole picture: Good inflation data, this month's strong jobs report—we're seeing an economy with stable growth, inflation well below its peak, and a strong labor market. Despite global economic challenges, the United States continues to have the lowest inflation rate in the G7, the leading group of industrial nations, as well as the fastest economic recovery. President Biden's focus on reducing the cost of living remains a top domestic priority, and his administration's actions have averted potential economic crises twice in 2023. The U.S. economy is strong and resilient, having gained [13.95 million]( [jobs]( since President Biden took office. The Biden administration's initiatives—such as lowering medication costs, reducing health care premiums, and addressing corporate greed—are strengthening the economy. [Investments in infrastructure]( manufacturing, and internet accessibility also underline the president's commitment to sustainable growth and increased living standards. The bottom line: Bidenomics is working for everyday Americans. The administration’s policies are growing the middle class and fostering economic stability. You can track exactly how the Biden administration’s economic policies are helping Americans across the country by searching through investments in ​​[the Biden Administration Investment Tracker]( and signing up for the [newsletter](. [Biden Administration Investment Tracker. Get the latest data on the Biden administration's economic laws. ]( They May Have a New Leader, But the MAGA Caucus Still Has No Clue How To Govern This week, for the second time in just a few months, the United States averted a government shutdown. Keeping the government open brings relief to the millions of federal workers who would have gone without pay right before the holidays and ensures Americans will continue to receive the essential services they rely on. However, this short-term solution does not guarantee the same certainty as full-year spending bills for the [lifesaving government programs]( that extreme right-wing members of the House have tried to cut drastically. After House passage of the continuing resolution to keep the government open into early next year, [Patrick Gaspard]( president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement: Meet the new boss—same as the old boss. We’re not fooled. They may have a new leader, but the MAGA caucus still has no clue how to govern. Careening from shutdown deadline to shutdown deadline causes uncertainty and chaos for the nation. This “speaker of the month” must step up and pass full-year spending bills that honor the bipartisan budget deal his caucus agreed to months ago. [read More]( Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]