Bush Administration Appealing Judge’s Ruling On Currency For The Blind
Previously I posted on a federal judge who ordered the Treasury Department to devise a system of currency more accessible to blind people. Today comes the news that the Bush administration will be appealing that decision.
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Tuesday asked an appeals court to overturn a ruling that could require a redesign of the nation’s currency to help the blind.
Justice Department lawyers filed the appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on behalf of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
The appeal seeks to overturn a ruling last month by U.S. District Judge James Robertson, who ordered Treasury to come up with ways for the blind to recognize the different denominations of paper currency.
Robertson had ruled in a lawsuit brought by the American Council of the Blind. The council proposed several options for changes, including printing different size bills or changing the texture by adding embossed dots or foil.
Jeffrey Lovitky, an attorney for the council, said he planned to petition the appeals court to reject the appeal until Robertson makes a decision on what remedies the government should pursue. A hearing to hear the government’s recommendations is scheduled for next month.
I pretty sure this Judge’s ruling is unconstitutional. Aside from the fact that ordering a massive change in our currency system at the expense of taxpayes for the convenience of 0.4% of our nation’s population is just plain dumb, there’s also the fact that coining money is explicitly the province of Congress (Article 1, Section 8). If Congress wants to redesign our money they’ll do it. A judge has, or should have, no power to order such changes.
If we are going to make currency more accessible to the blind then let Congress pass a bill to that effect. Otherwise, it’s just not a matter for a judge to decide.
