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The Supreme Court The Supreme Court made several rulings today touching on the federal-state relationship. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the court narrowed the scope of a law that allows citizens to sue on behalf of the federal government when federal funds are misused in programs run by states. The justices also ruled that individuals can not use state product liability laws to sue automakers for not having air bags in cars built before federal regulations required them. In another case, the court said arson in a private home can not be prosecuted as a federal crime just because the house gets gas from an interstate pipeline, which is federally regulated.

All Things Considered

The Supreme Court

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The Supreme Court

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The Supreme Court made several rulings today touching on the federal-state relationship. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the court narrowed the scope of a law that allows citizens to sue on behalf of the federal government when federal funds are misused in programs run by states. The justices also ruled that individuals can not use state product liability laws to sue automakers for not having air bags in cars built before federal regulations required them. In another case, the court said arson in a private home can not be prosecuted as a federal crime just because the house gets gas from an interstate pipeline, which is federally regulated.