Supreme Court rules on television indecency, President Obama invokes executive privilege, and more.
- The Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) indecency policy did not give fair notice to networks as to what violates its standards, but did not decide whether the FCC’s policing actions violate free speech rights.
- President Obama invoked executive privilege for the first time over the Justice Department’s internal documents about the “Fast and Furious” operation in advance of a House committee vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate their safety standards for commercial space travel.
- House and Senate negotiators announced an agreement on a measure that would reauthorize medical-device user-fee programs at a higher rate and would add new user fees for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) review of generic drugs.
- In conjunction with the global environmental conference in Rio de Janeiro, C40 group leaders issued graphic visual representations on major cities’ progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- The Senate voted to block a measure that would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rules that require pollution reductions from coal-fired power plants.
- Cigar makers and specialty tobacco stores are trying to exclude premium cigars from new federal FDA regulations of the tobacco industry.
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Mary Schapiro testified before skeptical lawmakers from both parties today as she defended her campaign to overhaul the regulation of money-market funds.
- California Governor Jerry Brown urged state regulators to reduce the prevalence of chemical flame retardants in household furniture.
