Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Congress actually is doing something constitutional


Republicans in the U.S. house want to cut federal spending back to the 2008 level. That’s a good start.

Consider the irony of this, however. The cuts they are proposing now, in 2011, are not for 2012’s budget. They for the current budget.

The Constitution is quite clear about what Congress is supposed to do – somewhat less clear, thanks to the Supreme Court and some very aggressive politicians, about what it cannot and should not do. One of the very clear tasks is this: appropriate money.

All bills that spend money must originate in the House, so says the Constitution. The Senate cannot create bills to appropriate money, although they certainly can, and so, amend them – billions in earmarks each year. The President cannot write a bill to spend money – all he can do is find creative ways to spend what Congress allows.

The point is that it is a primary responsibility of Congress to figure out appropriate, constitutional ways to spend money. That is why Congress passes a federal budget every year except, well, last year.

Instead of passing  budget, which is their constitutional obligation, Congress bailed out big business, wrote a federal takeover of health care, grabbed more power over banks, started the process of dictating rules and regulations, and a plethora of other constitionally questionable actions. Is it any wonder that voters threw out the old rascals and elected new ones?

The new House, however, actually seems to want to listen to and obey the Constitution. They had the gall to actually read it aloud on the House floor – can you imagine? Now, the House actually wants to write a budget, and properly appropriate money. Will wonders ever cease?

Imagine the incredible freedom we could all enjoy if Congress and the President focused on what is constitutional, instead of the continuous increase in federal power over us. Imagine. Well, like our founding fathers imagined.

Given a chance to do it right, maybe the GOP will usher in a new day in a America, a shining city on a hill. But let’s be clear about this: it will only happen if We the People continue to lead and insist on it.

1 comment:

  1. The early signs from Congress are encouraging. What is less encouraging is the 18th century manner in which the Supreme Court carries out its responsibilities. For Checks & Balances to work well, it would seem Congress and the Court would work together to determine the constitutionality of legislation before it is passed and enacted rather than after the fact. 21st century America can ill-afford the irreparable financial harm of unconstitutional laws while an 18th century Court waits for any potential challenge to make its way at a snail's pace through the court system.

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