Jul 27 2009
Obama’s Ridiculous Attempt to Trample the Constitution
Congresswoman Kay Granger, Ranking Member of the appropriations subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations for the 111th Congress
According to The New American, on June 24th, Obama signed a 2009 supplemental bill that would allow “$106 billion loan guarantee to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be used.” But, at the same time he signed the bill he issued a statement saying that “provisions of this bill within sections 1110 to 1112 of title XI, and sections 1403 and 1404 of title XIV, would interfere with my Constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations by directing the Executive to take certain positions in negotiations or discussions with international organizations and foreign governments, or by requiring consultation with the Congress prior to such negotiations or discussions. I will not treat these provisions as limiting my ability to engage in foreign diplomacy or negotiations.” (WTF?)
In keeping with Congress’ Constitutional oversight role, it “gave the administration clear guidelines on how an expanded IMF should function…in sections 1110, 1112, 1403 and 1404.” However, the Constitution is very clear in Article I Section 2, 8, and 9 that the Congress has the oversight of spending money. “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law” (Sec 9) and under Congress’ exclusive power to “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations” under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.”
“The constitutional provisions granting the President power to represent the United States abroad are predicated upon the support of Congress at every turn in Article II, Section 2:
‘He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls … but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.’”
Representative Kay Granger (R-Tx) offered an amendment to the bill in effect rebuking Obama in his power grab, which would have made him a dictator. Good thing she had knowledge of the Constitution, which is so lacking in the Population, and, I might add, even legislators. The House passed the amendment to rebuke Obama almost unanimously (492-2). It states “Fiscal 2010 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill (H.R. 3081): “None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Secretary of the Treasury to negotiate an agreement in contravention of [law].”
I’m just waiting for the Congress to pass an amendment rebuking this “shadow government of Czars” that Obama has built up. Again, as I have mentioned before, there must be a good reason that Obama doesn’t make his school records public. He’s probably ashamed of them. Has he ever read the Constitution? Or is he just brazenly trying to overthrow it, like his friend Zelaya? Does anyone remember the other day when Obama threatened to take away Honduras’ foreign aid, because it had ousted his dictaor friend? Looks like he hasn’t learned yet that it is Congress who holds the purse strings.
