President Donald Trump came to Washington to work and he’s
done just that. It’s been said that he doesn’t sleep much or that he doesn’t
need much sleep. It’s appearing to be true. He promised to undo President Obama’s
executive orders and he seems to be doing so. Trump has seemingly done more
work in the first week than any other president has done.
The press looked at each thing he’s done and said and tried
to find something wrong with everything. A common phrase is that he’s not
learned to govern yet. Following is a list of executive orders he’s signed in
the first week.
1.
Multi-pronged orders on border security and
immigration enforcement including: the authorization of a U.S.-Mexico border
wall; the stripping of federal grant money to sanctuary cities; hiring 5,000
more Border Patrol agents; ending “catch-and-release” policies for illegal
immigrants; and reinstating local and state immigration enforcement
partnerships.
2.
Two orders reviving the Keystone XL pipeline and
Dakota Access pipelines. He also signed three other related orders that would:
expedite the environmental permitting process for infrastructure projects
related to the pipelines; direct the Commerce Department to streamline the
manufacturing permitting process; and give the Commerce Department 180 days to
maximize the use of U.S. steel in the pipeline.
3.
An order to reinstate the so-called "Mexico
City Policy" – a ban on federal funds to international groups that perform
abortions or lobby to legalize or promote abortion. The policy was instituted
in 1984 by President Reagan, but has gone into and out of effect depending on
the party in power in the White House.
4.
He signed a notice that the U.S. will begin withdrawing
from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Trump called the order "a
great thing for the American worker."
5.
An order imposing a hiring freeze for some
federal government workers as a way to shrink the size of government. This
excludes the military, as Trump noted at the signing.
6.
An order that directs federal agencies to ease
the “regulatory burdens” of ObamaCare. It orders agencies to “waive, defer,
grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision or
requirement” of ObamaCare that imposes a “fiscal burden on any State or a cost,
fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare
providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services,
purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or
medications.”
The governments primary responsibility is the protection
of our shores. The first executive order goes exactly to that. For the past
eight years coming to this country especially across the southern border has been
easy. Terrorists could have, and likely may have, walked across the border into
this country. So it’s good to see the first one being about our national
security. In addition stripping money from cities that are sanctuary cities,
which protects illegal aliens.
If you come to this country, you are leaving your
country. Many do come here for a better life. To enjoy the freedoms this
country affords it’s inhabitants. But we have laws. If you’re coming here to
try to make America into the country you just left, you’re coming here for the
wrong reason. Why would you want to turn this country into the one you just
left?
We were once a country of immigrants. People fled their
countries for the freedoms gained here. Those immigrants came here to create a
better life and better form of governing than they had where they came from.
They created that government and it’s been working for 241 years. We are no
longer a country of immigrants. We are now a free people in the greatest
country on earth. We’re no longer a country of immigrants. We are now a country
that welcomes immigrants that want to enjoy freedom, and opportunity. You’re
welcome to worship in the faith of your choice, and believe as you choose but
under the laws that we have in this country. If you’re coming here to try to
destroy this country, we have the right and responsibility to block you from
coming here and to throw you out if you can’t obey our laws.
Drawing away from the TPP was another promise kept.
Stripping the regulatory burdens from ObamaCare was another he’d promised and
taking away the penalties and taxes on businesses and families.
Our Constitution provides for a way for laws to be passed
in this country. They go through the House, the Senate and once the two houses
agree on a plan it then goes to the President for signature or veto. If the
President veto’s, the Congress can then try to override the veto. That is the
proper way to pass laws or not pass laws. But when a President writes up
executive orders that are not run through Congress, he’s leading as a dictator,
not as a President of the United States. By Trump signing executive orders to
eliminate Obama’s executive orders, he’s allowing the Congress to write and
pass or deny laws that Obama had done over his eight years in office.
A few comments about the future. There has been some talk
that the Democrats are reeling and becoming insignificant. In the short term that’s very real. However,
think back to 2008. The year before the Democrats took over the House and the
Senate. In 2008, Obama won the Presidency and the Democrats increased their
seats in Congress. It was said that it would take decades if not longer for the
Republicans to recover. Democrats were extremely close to having a filibuster
proof majority in the Senate. The stimulus was passed in the first weeks and
that created the Tea Party. Shortly after, Senator Arlen Specter changed
parties giving the Democrats that 60th seat making the Senate
filibuster proof. The passage of Obamacare turned things around for the
Republicans. So much so that Scott Brown, a Republican, won the seat emptied by
the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy eliminating the filibuster proof Senate.
The Republicans took over the House in 2010, added to it
in 2012 and took the majority in the Senate in 2014. This was accomplished by
the Democrats by going too far and not working with Republicans.
The Republicans are now in much the same boat, although
their majority in the Senate is not close to filibuster proof. It can be if the
Republicans do things properly. If Trump does things properly and if the
Democrats continue to look at their own interests rather than the people’s
interests, the Republicans should increase rather than decrease.
The Democrats have a monumental task ahead of them. But
not insurmountable. If the Republicans don’t stay true to their word, they’ll
begin losing. If the Democrats don’t change their positions and get less
liberal, they will continue to lose. But if the Republicans continue to work
for the people, and not for themselves, in local, state and federal levels they’ll
increase their positions.
This can only be done by the ultimate watchdog, the
American voter. If you disagree with a policy or a proposal, let your
representative know and let your two Senators know. Google US House and US
Senate and you’ll find your representatives and Senators. Their mail, phone,
fax and E-mail are all listed there. Send a quick note to them about your
thoughts. Keep it clean and civil. Tell them your topic, and tell them what you
believe and why. It doesn’t have to be a
ten page letter. It’s better if it’s one page and directly to the point. They won’t
care about one letter or E-mail, but they will care when they see dozens.
President Trump has been in office for one week and he
has been very busy. Each time the media tells us that he can’t do something,
Trump turns around and does it. His first week has been a successful and busy
week.
You’re welcome to comment.
Brett
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