----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Volk" <joevolk@fcnl.org>
To: "Miriam Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 4:15 PM
Subject: Congress Giving Away Power to the President - FCNL
"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and
judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and
whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be
pronounced the very definition of tyranny."
- James Madison, Federalist Papers, # 47, 1788
The U.S. Constitution is designed to prevent any one branch of
government from accumulating too much power. In particular, the framers
developed a system of checks and balances to prevent the president from
taking excessive powers from the other branches, leading to a gradual
slide into monarchy. But Congress this year is considering a series of
legislative proposals that would erode the power of the House and the
Senate and expand the power of the president for decades to come.
Responding to the difficult, messy, and sometimes imperfect system for
drafting the federal budget, several members of Congress have proposed
"reforms" that could seriously damage popular federal programs and
shift even more power from Congress to the executive branch. The line
item veto, sunset commissions, and the "Gregg mechanism" are key
words describing far reaching proposals to restructure how decisions
are made about federal spending. All of them hand legislative power to
the White House.
Few people dispute that the process for writing a federal budget is
imperfect. But spending decisions belong in Congress, with our
democratically elected representatives. Undermining the separation of
powers in the Constitution is not the solution. Congress should
establish a clear, transparent, and more accountable system for
approving the federal budget. Members of Congress should not simply
throw up their hands and say to the president "Here, you decide."
Line Item Veto Lets President Change Programs and Funding
The House is scheduled to vote this week on legislation providing the
president with the line item veto - legislation that would allow the
president to re-write Congress' decisions about programs and spending
(H.R. 4890, S. 2381). The president would be authorized to send a
"special message" to Congress, requiring that spending on certain
programs be cut, or that eligibility for certain benefits (such as
Medicare or student aid) be changed to save money. Congress would have
just 14 days to consider the president's "special message." No
amendments would be allowed - Congress would have to vote yea or nay
on the whole package of proposed cuts and program changes. The
president could withhold spending on selected programs for 90 days or
longer, whether or not Congress approves his proposed rescissions.
Sunset Commission Sidelines the Congressional Review Process
After the July 4 recess, the House will debate several proposals to
set up a commission appointed by the president to review all federal
programs according to "performance criteria" and to recommend
continuance or abolition of each one. Several proposals are being
negotiated by House leaders. One would mandate a one-time review of all
programs (except military). Another approach would require all
programs to be reviewed every 10 years. (So far, these bills include
military spending.) Congress would be required to take very quick
action on the commission's recommendations. If Congress fails to act
before a stated deadline, the program would be terminated.
The "Gregg Mechanism" Puts Budget-Cutting on Autopilot
The Senate is considering a broader proposal (S.3521), introduced by
Senate Budget Committee Chair Judd Gregg (NH) and Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist (TN), that would slice funding for programs such as
Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and student aid to comply with a
formula linked to economic indicators. This proposal also includes a
version of the line item veto and the sunset commission.
What's Likely to Happen?
The House is acting now on line item veto legislation. Sunset
commission proposals will be considered by both houses after the July 4
recess. Though these topics are complex in their details, the overall
message that members of Congress need to hear from their constituents
is a simple one: Spending decisions belong in Congress, with our
democratically elected representatives. Urge your representative and
senators to strengthen Congress's responsibility for these decisions,
and not to cede that authority to the president.
Read more about the line item veto at http://www.cbpp.org/6-19-06bud2.htm
Read more about sunset commissions. [http://www.cbpp.org/6-16-06bud.htm]
Read more about proposed budget reforms.
[http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1826&issue_id=18]
Read the latest FCNL Washington Newsletter "Democracy in the Balance"
<http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/nl_preview.htm>
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