"[T]he issue reduced to whether [the beneficiary order of precedence stated in the Federal Employee's Group Life Insurance Act] is solely designed for the administrative convenience of federal plan administrators (in which case the state law likely would not be preempted), or instead reflects a more robust congressional agenda to ensure that the insured's choice of beneficiary would be honored so that designated beneficiaries not only receive, but also keep, life insurance proceeds (in which case the state law almost certainly would be preempted). Because the statute does not accomplish either purpose perfectly, the advocates faced the challenge of trying to square a circle to the Justices' satisfaction -- and the Justices were not easily satisfied."  MORE >>