A federal judge in Florida has temporarily blocked a U.S. Federal Trade Commission rule that would ban agreements commonly signed by workers not to join their employers’ rivals or launch competing businesses, becoming the second judge to rule that the ban is likely invalid.

During a hearing on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan in Ocala, Florida, blocked the FTC from applying the rule to real estate developer Properties of the Villages, pending the outcome of the company’s lawsuit claiming the commission lacked the power to adopt the ban earlier this year.

Corrigan at the hearing said the rule implicated a question of “extraordinary economic and political significance” that Congress did not empower the FTC to address, according to a court transcript.

Corrigan cited the “major questions doctrine,” a legal theory embraced in recent years by conservative lawyers and judges - including the U.S. Supreme Court - in challenges to many Democratic and progressive policies. The doctrine says that federal agencies can only issue rules with broad societal impacts with Congress’ explicit permission.

    • @[email protected]
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      30 days ago

      70% of us realize that.

      The 30% that vote republican cause this shit because they are spiteful, stupid, losers who blame everyone else for their idiocy and vote in people to hurt the ones they blame.

      Unfortunately 30% in the right places is all you need to fuck up the system.

      • DreamButt
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        1030 days ago

        Mostly bc land had more power than people do in this country

      • Rentlar
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        930 days ago

        Then it’s time to bring the big changes to the partisan makeup of Congress. Turn it so blue to the point where Conservatives won’t like the Major Questions Doctrine anymore since the Democrats will have Major Answers to them.

    • @ZagamTheVile
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      30 days ago

      But it isn’t broken. It’s working perfectly and exactly the way it’s desiged to. It doesn’t need fixing. It needs replacing.

  • @Snapz
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    30 days ago

    So fucked up that the headlines always say things like “US judge” and they ALWAYS leave out the one piece of context wanted. Look at that face and take your guess…

  • @[email protected]
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    1130 days ago

    If broad social impacts includes preserving essential rights and freedoms, then screw it. I care not the least bit about this stupid doctrine when it’s used to harm the vulnerable.

  • @Alexstarfire
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    1030 days ago

    Political impact? The ability to turn anything into a shit show is astounding.