10/28/2015

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Home >DebateClub >IsObama'sImmigrationExecutiveOrderLegal? >GovernmentbyExecutiveFiat

GovernmentbyExecutiveFiat
ByDerrickMorgan

465

335

Nov.21,2014|11:00a.m.EST

+More

PresidentBarackObama,withastrokeofhispenandmaybetheuseofhisphone
gavequasilegalstatusandworkpermitstomillionsofillegalimmigrants.Evenifyouthink

thissemilegalizationofthe"undocumented"isagoodidea,isthisgoodprecedentforAmerica?
Ourcountrystartedwhenagroupofdedicatedmenpledgedtheirlives,fortunesandsacredhonor
becauseofalongtrainofabusesandusurpationsbyKingGeorgeIII.Whenwewonindependence,
ourinitialgoverningcharter,theArticlesofConfederation,hadnoexecutiveatall.Whenthatdidnot
workout,theframersofourConstitutioncreatedalimitedgovernmentwithseparate,coequal
branchesofgovernment,includinganexecutivebranchcontrolledbyapresident.Congressandthe
courtswouldcheckthepresidentspower.
NowisthetimeforCongresstopushbackontheexecutive.Ifitdoesnot,thenwhatwillstopthe
presidentthisoneorafutureonefromexpandingthisprecedent?
Thinkabouthownewprecedentscanupsetthebalanceofpower.Judicialnomineesusedtobe
examinedforqualificationsandwerealmostalwaysconfirmed.ButthenDemocratsbegantoroutinely
filibusternominees.RepublicansretaliatedwhenObamatookoffice.Inresponse,SenateDemocrats
triggeredthenuclearoption,whichprecludedfilibustersonsomejudicialnominations.Theydiditby
majorityvote,threateningtoweakentheSenatesabilitytobethecoolingsaucerenvisionedbythe
framers.
[SEE:ImmigrationCartoons]
Obamasexecutiveactioncouldusherinaneraofgovernmentbyexecutivefiat.Afuturepresident
maydecidetouseprosecutorialdiscretiontoignoreenvironmentalortaxlaws.Thinkaboutit.
AconservativepresidentmighttrytopushaneliminationofcapitalgainstaxesthroughCongress.If
Congressrefused,thepresidentcouldsayhewouldusehisprosecutorialdiscretiontoeffectivelyend
collectionofthosetaxes.Specifically,sinceonlyasmallportionoftaxfilerscanbeauditedor
prosecuted,hemightpubliclyannouncethattherewillbenoauditsorprosecutionsforfailuretopay
capitalgainstaxes.
Wedallunderstandthathehadjusteffectivelychangedthecapitalgainsratetozero,somethingonly
Congresscando.RobertDelahunty,JonathanTurleyandJohnYoolegalscholarsofthefirstorder,
andnotallconservativesarewarningofthesedangers.
SowhatshouldCongressdo?First,Congressshouldrefusetopasslegislationortoconfirmnominees

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10/28/2015

GovernmentbyExecutiveFiatUSNews

thepresidentwants.Second,Congresscanusethepowerofthepurseandrefusetofundanyactions
neededtoimplementtheamnesty.Third,itcansuethepresident,thoughsuccessseemsfarfrom
certain.
IfthislameduckCongresscannotpassafundingrestriction,thenitoughttopassashorttermfunding
billsothenewCongresstheonethatjustfacedthevoterscanrespondintheNewYear.
Obamasamnestyismorethanjustbadpolicy.Hisillegitimateexecutiveactionthreatenstoleadtoa
newpowerconcentratingnormalforpresidentialbehavior.Congressmustpushbacksopowerdoes
notaccumulateintheexecutivebranch,tothedetrimentoflibertyforall.

AboutDerrickMorganisavicepresidentofTheHeritageFoundation,whereheleads
theInstituteforEconomicFreedomandOpportunity.

Tagsexecutiveorders,Obama,Barack,Obamaadministration,immigration,immigrationreform

OtherArguments
YESObamaIsJustDoingHisJob
#1

512
MarshallFitzisdirectorofimmigrationpolicyattheCenterforAmerican
Progress.

187Pts
325

NOCynicalPolitickingHasTrumpedPolicy
#3

210
TamarJacobyispresidentofImmigrationWorksUSA.

50Pts
260

MAYBEBadLawsLeadtoBadExecutiveOrders
#4

162
AlexNowrastehistheimmigrationpolicyanalystattheCatoInstitute's

106Pts

CenterforGlobalLibertyandProsperity.

268

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