Lawless in Washington – Donald Trump Edition

Back in the day, I wrote a lot about Barack Obama’s overreach in the use of presidential power.  After the election in 2016, I asked “Lawless in Washington – Will There Be a Donald Trump Edition?”  The answer was always going to be yes, and some of President Trump’s actions over the weekend were of a kind with things President Obama did; i.e., lawless.

I’m not exactly sure what President Trump was trying to do with his order about evictions and rental relief.  It sounds like it is mostly just telling federal agencies to see what they can do.  In other words, not much.  Student loan relief was already being done.  This is a little more, I guess, but overall it, too, is not much.

Deferral of employees’ FICA contributions may be legal.  I don’t know, and I don’t care enough to research it.  I do know it’s stupid.  A mere deferral just means the employees will have to repay it in 2021.  How’s that going to help?  And if the deferred amount is forgiven or otherwise not collected, that’s not good for Social Security and Medicare.  The Social Security and Medicare funds need to be shored up, not drained down.  However, the Democrats’ concerns about Social Security’s solvency are beyond hypocritical.  But, hey, that’s politics in America today.

Finally, there is President Trump’s attempt to pay $300 per week in unemployment compensation through December 6.  He is using money out of another fund to do it.  It is absurd and wrong.  Congress is supposed to appropriate money.  Presidents don’t get to just spend money because they want to and they think it is necessary.  There are procedures and processes to follow.  Following proper process is about following the rule of law.  It’s critical.  It protects our freedom.  And we need to do it even if it means we can’t get the policies we want.  Because the rule of law is most important.

I do, however, tend to disregard the Democrats’ complaints here about constitutional norms.  I really wish they meant them.  But, given that they did not complain when President Trump’s predecessor did things that stretched constitutional limits, it’s hard to credit their concerns now.  Which is unfortunate.  It would be great if their criticisms were more than just political point scoring, but I don’t think they are.  And since I doubt President Trump has a clue on this kind of issue, the rule of law and proper process are not in a good spot.