Where is Congress?
Article 1 of the Constitution explains the responsibilities of Congress. They are:
1) Enacting laws: Congress has the authority to create and pass legislation that affects the nation.
2) Declaring war: Only Congress can declare war, ensuring that military actions are subject to legislative approval.
3) Raising revenue: Congress is responsible for levying taxes, tariffs and collecting revenue.
4) Oversight of the executive branch: Congress monitors the executive branch to hold the president accountable.
Congress is failing on all of these.
Instead of laws, we are governed by executive orders. They’ve not declared war, yet they support and finance the illegal killing in Iran. They’ve allowed the president to place illegal tariffs because he feels like it. And there is no oversight.
I’ve corresponded many times with Rep. Blake Moore about this issue and others. He sent me a letter and said this,
“I believe we have an obligation to hold our elected leaders to the highest standards, and one of my priorities in Congress is to roll back the powers that Congress has unnecessarily ceded to the executive branch. Congress should be the body debating and making policies impacting the lives of millions of Americans. Providing checks and balances on the other branches of government is a fundamental responsibility of Congress, and I am committed to exercising this constitutional duty regardless of who the president is.”
After receiving this I was deeply concerned and disappointed because I haven’t seen Moore, or any Republican member of Congress hold the president accountable for anything. In fact, it’s just the opposite. All Republicans in Congress have enabled the president, allowing him to do whatever he wants. And they stay silent because they are afraid of his wrath. They have willingly surrendered their integrity just to keep their jobs. It seems that a paycheck is more important than fulfilling their congressional responsibilities.
And now, Speaker Mike Johnson sent Congress home two weeks early because Thomas Massie brought impeachment charges against Pete Hegseth. Talk about corruption! Our leaders are willingly absent at a time when we need them most.
Michael Waterfall, Ogden