Barack Obama spent his first two years as President – enjoying a Democrat-controlled Congress that was as awful for America as he was.
The Democrat Congress passed a lot of really awful legislation – which Obama very happily signed.
We the People loathed said legislation. So We incepted the Tea Party Movement – and elected a Republican House majority the very next chance we had.
We did this – to impede the previously unimpeded flow of really awful Democrat legislation to which we had been subjected.
Obama’s response to our electoral blockade? Let’s just say it wasn’t self-reflective – or respectful of our wishes:
“We are not just going to be waiting for legislation….I’ve got a pen – and I’ve got a phone. And I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions….”
But wait a second…. Here’s Obama in 2008 – running for the gig:
“We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end run around Congress.”
I much prefer Obama – Edition 2008.
Why any Republican would seek to emulate Obama 2.0’s executive fiat policy – is light years beyond me.
But that’s exactly what some Republicans may be trying to do.
Some Republicans have thankfully gained no traction with their Elephant colleagues on a really awful bill….
Why Are Some Republicans Looking To Add More Government To Health Care?
Why Do Republicans #Persist In Adding Government To Health Care?:
“Behold – Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander. Who very recently penned an editorial defending his government-expanding decision. His very own title – admits the inherent error.
“‘Lower Health Care Costs Act’ Aims to End Surprise Billing
“Your legislation ‘aims to end surprise billing’ – ?!?
“Government is the worst shot in the history of aiming.
“Obamacare aimed to ‘reduce premiums by $2,500 per year.’ They DOUBLED.
“I guarantee you no one around at Medicare’s inception said they were aiming to put US taxpayers $38 trillion underwater. Yet that’s what it’s done.
“Yet Senator Alexander #Persists.”
While Alexander #Persists in the Senate – Texas Republican Congressman Kevin Brady may be in the throes of #Persist in the House. And may be – looking to go one awful step farther.
Massachusetts Democrat Congressman Richard Neal realizes this legislative duck his dead. So Neal is looking to end run the Congress to which he was elected – and obviously shouldn’t have been:
“House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) is proposing a new way to move forward on crafting rules to protect patients from surprise medical bills….
“In a letter to Democratic lawmakers…Neal is proposing a new solution that would essentially punt the details of the fix to a committee consisting of stakeholder groups and the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury.
“The committee would come up with recommendations that would then be issued in a regulation from the administration.”
This is a Congressman – and the Chairman of an allegedly important Committee. His constituents elected him to the Legislative Branch – thinking they were electing someone to draft and vote upon legislation.
And this person is looking to “punt the details of the fix to a committee consisting of stakeholder groups and the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury.”
Which is an entire gaggle of people – whom NO ONE ELECTED.
This is an unelected gaggle – made up of industry lobbyists…and career Swamp bureaucrats.
Now, we know lobbyists write most of the bills Congress extrudes. Here, gone is even the pretense of legislators legislating.
This unelected gaggle would draft a…not a bill, because that’s what Neal and his colleagues are supposed to draft. This unelected gaggle would draft a…something.
And then the three departments’ worth of unelected bureaucrats – would unilaterally impose what they’ve unilaterally concocted.
NONE of this has ANYTHING to do with the Constitution – or the representative republic the Constitution created.
If We the People don’t like what these clowns have done to us – we can’t do a thing about it.
Where are the Republicans on this unilateral assault on our Constitution, government and freedom?
“Neal wrote in the letter that he is ‘optimistic’ that Rep. Kevin Brady (Texas), the top Republican on the committee, will agree to his proposal.
“‘Committee Republicans support banning surprise medical billing to protect patients and look forward to reviewing the details of this and other possible solutions to solve this problem in a balanced way for the American people,’ a Brady spokesperson said.”
HARD NO, Congressman Brady.
The ONLY government attempt – MUST come directly from the Legislative Branch.
Your inability to pass this awful piece of legislation – is what the FBI used to call a clue.
You can’t pass this awful piece of legislation – because members of the Legislative Branch have rightly deemed it awful.
This is supposed to mean – the bill dies.
It is NOT an invitation to outsource your gigs.
It is NOT an invitation to hand off crafting law – to unelected lobbyists and bureaucrats.
It is NOT an invitation to the impose this unconstitutional creation – via Obama-esque unilateral fiats.
Congress:
Do your jobs.
Which very often means – doing nothing at all.
This first appeared in Red State.