commerce clause

U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled Monday that Virginia's lawsuit against the health care reform law can proceed to a hearing on the merits. By agreeing that the state has a right to bring the suit, he has, in effect, agreed to rule on the constitutionality of health care reform.

The House of Representatives has passed the "SPILL Act," which -- if also passed by the Senate -- will allow families of men killed in the Deepwater Horizon accident to sue BP for normal damages. Under current maritime law, BP might get away with payments as low as $1,000 per death.