For Immediate Release
NOVEMBER 10, 2011
Contact: Avram Goldstein 202-587-1634
agoldstein@healthcareforamericanow.org

Numerous Conflicts of Interest Make It Impossible for Thomas to Render Fair, Impartial Decision on Affordable Care Act

Washington, DC - U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has significant conflicts of interest that make it impossible for him to render a fair, impartial decision in the health care case being reviewed today by the Court, according to Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the nation's largest grassroots health care advocacy organization.

"Justice Thomas has so many conflicts of interest he should recuse himself," said HCAN Executive Director Ethan Rome. "Political groups determined to repeal or overturn the Affordable Care Act have been filling his family bank account for years. His wife Virginia has been a crusader in the campaign to defeat the law. She has raised money and taken money from organized efforts to kill health reform.

"At the same time, Justice Thomas personally has aligned himself with political activists and organizations dedicated to thwarting the law. He spoke at a secret conclave run by the billionaire Koch Brothers to raise funds for organizations like Americans for Prosperity. There is simply no way that Justice Thomas can render a fair decision in this important case."

Justice Thomas failed to disclose until January that his wife received income of nearly $690,000 between 2003 and 2006 from the Heritage Foundation, a leading proponent of overturning the Affordable Care Act.

Seventy-four members of the House of Representatives have taken the highly unusual step of requesting that Justice Thomas remove himself from participation in deliberations on the Affordable Care Act. If Justice Thomas fails to recuse himself, it will threaten the integrity of the entire Supreme Court.

A conservative group has issued a call for Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan to recuse herself from the same case. "This is part of a politically motivated and baseless attack designed to divert the public's focus away from the substantive and compelling evidence of Justice Thomas's conflicts of interest," Rome said.

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Health Care for America Now is the nation's leading grassroots health care advocacy organization. HCAN led the fight over the past two years to win passage of health reform and to keep Congress from being steamrolled by corporate special interests.