Supremes, Meet Chris Murphy; Rep. Murphy, Meet the Supremes

WASHINGTON--Rep. Chris Murphy is drafting a bill that will delve into complex constitutional issues, spotlight judicial ethics, and rev up liberal activists key to his Senate aspirations.

When Congress returns from its week-long President's Day recess, the 5th District Democrat says he will introduce legislation cracking down on what critics say are possible conflicts of interest by the Supreme Court's two most conservative justices, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Murphy's bill is sure to delight liberal groups and enrage conservatives. As for its legislative prospects, it may not get far in the GOP-controlled House, although Murphy said he's planning to reach out to a pair of Republicans who have sponsored a different bill that would also bring new oversight to the federal courts.

Murphy said in an interview that he's motivated by deep concerns about the fate of the federal health care overhaul, which is now being challenged in the courts by Republican attorneys general around the country. The Supreme Court is all but certain to issue the final judgment on whether the health care law is constitutional or not.

And Murphy says the justices' impartiality on the health care measure--as well as on other issues--is in question.

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