House Votes to End Payments for ‘Equal Access to Justice’

Under a 1980 law designed to ensure equal access to justice, individuals and businesses or other organizations that successfully sue the federal government are entitled to collect attorney fees from the federal government if they meet certain qualifications, like falling under a net worth ceiling.

On Thursday, the House voted to temporarily stop the program as an amendment to a continuing funding resolution.  The full measure still needs the approval of the full house and Senate.  Supporters of the bill say that the program needs to be suspended long enough to conduct an audit of who is collecting fees under the law.