As Massachusetts Democratic leaders cheered the Supreme Court's ruling striking down President Donald Trump's tariffs on Friday, several also called for restitution for businesses that have struggled under the weight of increased costs over the past year.

"No Supreme Court decision can undo the massive damage that Trump's chaotic tariffs have caused," U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement. "The American people paid for these tariffs and the American people should get their money back."

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey called the case Main Street vs. Mar-a-lago.

"We must guarantee that small businesses get immediate relief and end Trump's tariff taxes on working people for good," Markey said in a statement.

The 6-3 decision focused on the president's authority under the emergency powers law and represents a massive rebuke from the court that Trump reshaped over his two terms.

Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.

The Constitution gives Congress the power to levy tariffs. But the Trump administration argued that a 1977 law allowing the president to regulate importation during emergencies also allows him to set tariffs.

Other presidents have used the law dozens of times, often to impose sanctions, but Trump was the first president to invoke it for import taxes, according to the Associated Press.

"The Supreme Court has confirmed what we’ve known all along — President Trump does not have the authority to implement these harmful and costly tariffs," Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. "But this isn’t simply an abuse of power. For a year now, President Trump’s tariffs have increased costson every American and every business.

"His chaotic approach has caused instability in our economy, undermined business confidence, and weakened the United States’ standing on the world stage. So, while this is a welcome development, the damage has already been done."

Trump set what he called "reciprocal" tariffs on most countries in April 2025 to address trade deficits that he declared a national emergency.

Those came after he imposed duties on Canada, China and Mexico, which he said were because of a drug trafficking emergency.

The economic impact of Trump's tariffs has been estimated at some $3 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

"Trump promised time and again that he would bring down the cost of living," Democratic Whip U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) said. "Instead, working people have struggled under the crushing weight of skyrocketing prices. Tariffs have hiked the cost of groceries, utilities, toys, school supplies, and more — all so billionaires could take home a bigger tax cut."

The Treasury has collected more than $133 billion from the import taxes the president has imposed under the emergency powers law, federal data from December shows.

Many companies, including the big-box warehouse chain Costco, have already lined up in court to demand refunds, the AP said.

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Original article HERE.