Lee Metcalf: “to date, the President has issued 278 executive orders. A number of these have infringed on the powers and duties of…”

“to date, the President has issued 278 executive orders. A number of these have infringed on the powers and duties of Congress as dictated by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. One was even rescinded by Congress last year. Today, I am introducing a concurrent resolution regarding executive orders. This vital legislation reasserts the role and responsibility of Congress to enact laws and to appropriate federal dollars. My resolution reminds all of us that only Congress has the power to spend Federal monies. In the first century of our Nation's history, there were no problems with executive orders. They seemed to fit within the legitimate powers of the presidency because they were used mostly to direct Federal employees in carrying out their legitimate functions. However, early in this century, presidents began issuing executive orders that pushed beyond the prescribed presidential authority. But somehow these orders seemed reasonable. They were accepted with criticism coming only from jurists and scholars who were concerned about the fine points of balance among the three coequal branches of government. Thus, as always with the usurpation of power and authority, it begins in ways that seem needed, or at least reasonable. My resolution seeks to avoid any confusion or obscurity concerning executive orders by reestablishing congressional authority under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.”