Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/609333
ByMarkSherman The Associated Press WASHINGTON The Su- preme Court's lineup of new cases is fit for an elec- tion year. Affirmative action, abor- tion and another look at the Obama health care law all are before the court, and they could well be joined by immigration, giving the justices a run of cases that reads like a campaign plat- form. Also coming; disputes in- volving public-sector labor unions, the death penalty and the way electoral dis- tricts are drawn. Decisions in these high- profile cases almost cer- tainly will split the court along ideological lines, mir- roring the country's stark partisan split. What's more, the most contentious issues won't be resolved until late June, barely four months before the 2016 presiden- tial election. What started as a some- what sleepy term — espe- cially following major de- cisions last June on health care and same-sex marriage — has become much more interesting, says University of Pennsylvania law dean Theodore Ruger. "This is a court that re- mains very assertive in its role in declaring what the law is," Ruger said. The accumulation of wrenching social issues and pointed policy dis- putes at the Supreme Court at this moment is mostly a matter of chance. A le- gal fight over the regula- tion of abortion clinics in Texas has been underway for two and a half years. President Barack Obama's plan to shield from depor- tation millions of immi- grants who are living in the country illegally was rolled out a year ago and almost immediately challenged in court. Faith-based groups that say they are forced to be complicit in providing objectionable birth control to women covered under their health plans have been challenging the Obama ad- ministration for more than three years. It is still is possible the immigration dispute will not be heard until next fall, if at all. Now that the cases are at the marble courthouse atop Capitol Hill, the jus- tices' decisions could feed campaign rhetoric that al- ready has been heated on abortion and immigration, to name just two issues. In June 2012, Chief Jus- tice John Roberts provided the decisive vote that saved Obama's health care over- haul in the midst of the president's campaign for re-election. A short time later, Re- publican candidate Mitt Romney proclaimed that as president he would do what the high court failed to do that June — get rid of the health care law. Obama won re-election, and the law survived. Ruger said the chief jus- tice wrote a nuanced opin- ion that appeared to show some sensitivity to the looming election. "I think Roberts recog- nized this was going to be an issue in front of the vot- ers," Ruger said. The elec- torate ultimately would de- cide the health care law's fate, he said. Court decisions close to an election, especially when they produce big changes in the law, also can increase at- tention paid to those issues. This is part of what Texas A&M University po- litical scientist Joseph Ura called the court's agenda- setting effect. Ura pointed to Brown v. Board of Ed- ucation's outlawing of ra- cial segregation in pub- lic schools and Lawrence v. Texas' ban on state anti- sodomy laws as examples of past decisions that altered "the existing arrangement of material or symbolic benefits in our political system." Researchers found that those decisions "led to a large, sustained increase in the media's attention" to those issues, Ura said. SCOTUS Court'selection-yearlineup rich in high-profile cases PABLOMARTINEZMONSIVAIS—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE The Supreme Court building is seen in Washington. NATI HARNIK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A man walks in the snow past a statue of children holding umbrellas in Omaha, Neb., on Monday. By Dirk Lammers The Associated Press SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Schools called off classes and road crews warned of hazard- ous conditions Monday as a slow-moving snowstorm threated to bury parts of the Northern Plains, while states farther south worked to recover from a weekend of icy weather and deadly flooding. Snow made for a messy, slow commute in Minne- apolis, while dozens of schools closed for the day because of snow in Iowa, South Dakota and Minne- sota. Up to a foot of snow was expected in eastern South Dakota and south- west Minnesota, while smaller amounts were fore- cast from Nebraska to Wis- consin through Tuesday. Drivers across the region were dealing with slick, snow-packed roads and re- duced visibility, said Todd Heitkamp, a meteorologist with the weather service in Sioux Falls, where po- lice reported more than 70 accidents by midday. "If people don't need to be traveling, they shouldn't be,"Heitkampsaid."Letthe road crews do their jobs." Sioux Falls was readying its snow clearing equip- ment, but the steady snow- fall was expected to keep crews from plowing the city's residential neighbor- hoods until Tuesday. The weather also prompted Northern State University in Aberdeen, about 200 miles northeast, to cancel a women's basketball game set for Monday night. Farther south, states were recovering after heavy rain and freezing rain over the Thanksgiv- ing holiday. Search crews in Texas found a body Monday in the submerged car of a woman who was swept off a bridge by floodwaters three days earlier near Fort Worth. Eight people died from the flooding in Texas over the past few days. Teams also were work- ing to restore power to tens of thousands of people in Oklahoma,wherethegover- norissuedastatewidedisas- ter declaration after an ice storm knocked out power to about 150,000 utility cus- tomers over the weekend. Heavy rains in Mis- souri have pushed the Mississippi River to near flood levels near St. Louis, though no damage has been reported. Flood warnings also persist in Arkansas. Winter storm dumping snow on Northern Plains SEVERE WEATHER By Paul J. Weber The Associated Press AUSTIN, TEXAS Texas wanted assurances Mon- day from a major resettle- ment agency that it will not accept Syrian refugees and threatened legal action if Republican Gov. Greg Ab- bott's orders are defied. The International Res- cue Committee, a non- profit that's based in New York and runs a program in Dallas, gave no indication that it will change course and relocate Syrian refu- gees somewhere other than Texas. In a statement, the organization said "it is im- portant not to conflate ter- rorists with the Syrian ref- ugees who are seeking sanc- tuary in the United States." Abbott is among nearly two dozen governors, mostly Republicans, who have vowed to block efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in their states following the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. The Obama admin- istration reminded them in a Nov. 25 letter that states don't have that legal au- thority and could be pun- ished, including suspension or termination from the federally funded resettle- ment program, if services are denied. That same day, Texas health officials sent their own letter, warning legal action against the Interna- tional Rescue Committee if Syrian refugees are reset- tled in the state. "Your agency insists on resettling certain refugees from Syria in the near fu- ture. I must ask that you fulfill your statutory duty to conduct your activities 'in close cooperation and advance consultation' with the State of Texas," state Health and Human Ser- vices Commissioner Chris Traylor wrote in a letter. The letter was addressed to Donna Duvin, executive director of the Dallas office, who said last week that her staff was prepared to re- ceive refugees under cur- rent federal guidelines. Nearly20organizationsin Texasworkwithstatehealth officials to provide services to refugees. Most others have "expressed a willing- ness to work with the state" to identify alternatives for Syrian refugees, according to Traylor, which essentially means finding homes some- where other than Texas. Roughly 2,200 Syrian refugees have been allowed in the U.S. over the last four years. The Obama adminis- tration, which says the vet- ting process is thorough and can take up to two years, has outlined a goal of bringing 10,000 more Syr- ian refugees to the U.S. dur- ing the current budget year. MIGRANTS AND NONPROFITS Texas threatens resettlement agency over placement of Syrian refugees 750DavidAvenue,RedBluff•527-9193• www.tehamaestatesretirement.com findusonFacebook Tehama Estates The areas #1 Senior Housing Provider SeniorRetirementApartments •3DeliciousHealthyMealsEachDay • Daily Housekeeping • 24 Hour Staffing, 365 Days of the Year • Utilities Included (except phone & cable) • Transportation • Fun Activities and Events Call For Rent Special TehamaEstatesProvides: WehaveBuicks,Chevys, Chryslers, Dodge Cars, Dodge Trucks, Fiat, Ford Cars, Ford Trucks, GMC's, Hyundais, Jeeps, Kias, Nissans, Volkswagen & Lots of Toyotas 545 Adobe Rd., Red Bluff 530-366-3166 www.redbluffdodge.com Over 100 Pre-Owned in Stock! Check out Red Bluff Dodge.com or Better Yet... Like Bob Barker Said.... COME ON DOWN! 714WalnutSt.,RedBluff MoreThanJustaGasStation! We go the extra mile to keep our prices low and our service standards high. Your One Stop Convenience Store ONE STOP Water Truck Service from Walberg, Inc. We'lldeliverwatertoyourtank,wateryourroadsfordustcontrol, or water your plants. We're here for all of your Water Truck needs. OpenMondaythroughFriday8:00amto5:00pm. Call us today @ (530) 824-0773 or (530) 567-6246 Topsoil from Red Truck Rock Yard LLC !!! • Standard Blends • Premium Blends • Special Blends • Also Available: Mushroom Compost Mulch • Worm Castings Open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. We'llalsodeliverstraighttoyou. Call us today @ (530) 824-2418 10% OFF ALL PALLETIZED PRODUCTS Cannotbeusedwithotherspecials Limit to one per party per day Breakfast:9am-11am 7 days a week Presentcouponadtoreceiveoffer. GoodthroughNov.30,2015 604 Main St., Red Bluff (530) 529-5154 www.redblufflosmariachis.com Breakfast Special (Mustpurchasetwodrinks) Dine-InOnly Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Breakfast Burrito BestTireValue PROMISE ® 522AntelopeBlvd., Red Bluff (530) 529-1654 FREEWITHEVERYPASSENGERCAR AND LIGHT TRUCK TIRE PURCHASE www.lesschwab.com 819 Jefferson St. Red Bluff Individual&GroupMedicalInsurance Variouscompaniestochoosefrom ~ Medical Insurance (basic&highdeductibles) ~ Dental & Vision Insurance ~ Life Insurance ~ Medicare Supplements ~ Prescription Drug Plans ~ Supplemental Insurance with AFLAC products ~ Asset Preserver SINCE 1959 Jennifer&Michelle have over 35 years combined experience in Insurance Services Call for appointment (530) 527-6761 | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 4 B