Afternoon Briefs: Multistate suit challenges coronavirus relief provision; Crowell combines with boutique
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Lawsuit challenges tax provision in COVID-19 relief bill
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit challenging a tax provision in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The provision gives federal aid to states and local jurisdictions but says the money can’t be used to offset tax cuts. Yost says Congress doesn’t have the authority to use its influence under the spending clause to coerce the states to adopt Congress’ tax preferences. (Courthouse News Service, the Washington Post, Yost’s press release, the March 17 lawsuit)
Crowell & Moring combines with Kibbe & Orbe
Crowell & Moring is combining with a boutique law firm that represents hedge funds and other financial services clients. Crowell & Moring is adding 24 lawyers from the firm Kibbe & Orbe, including three founding partners and its managing partner. The lawyers will join Crowell & Moring offices in New York, London and Washington, D.C., bringing Crowell’s firmwide lawyer head count to about 587. (Law.com, Crowell & Moring press release)
21 states sue to keep Keystone XL pipeline
Republican attorneys general from 21 states have filed a lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden’s decision to revoke a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to the United States. The suit contends that revoking the pipeline amounts to a regulation of interstate commerce that should be left to Congress. (The Hill, the Texas Tribune, Texas attorney general press release, the March 17 lawsuit)
Prisoners die of COVID-19 as release requests denied or delayed
At least 54 federal prisoners have died from COVID-19 after their requests for compassionate release were denied or delayed, according to a count by the University of Iowa College of Law’s Criminal Defense Clinic. Many of those who died were nonviolent drug offenders or people who had already served lengthy sentences. (Vice via the Marshall Project)
