re: #303 mmmirele

Can we talk about how Donald Trump wanting to issue an executive order to get through the congressional impasse over coronavirus relief is unconstitutional?

* He can’t extend unemployment benefits, because that involves appropriation, which takes place in Congress, and in fact starts in the House.

* He can’t do away with the payroll tax, because the tax function again resides with Congress, not the president.

* It’s doubtful he can issue a ban on evictions (but I would need more information about the legal case for/against eviction bans).

* It’s also doubtful that he could issue a moratorium on collecting on student loans, as I assume this might include relief to the poor beleaguered loan companies who aren’t collecting on the overinflated loan balances and again, that would require an appropriation from Congress.

That said, Donald Trump’s advisors are *smart*. They know that if the Democrats in Congress were to file suit against these things, should Trump try to attempt them, this would be used in advertising against them. So it’s going to have to be left up to third-party “good governance” groups to go to court and get stays, which again could be ugly.

I’m telling you, folks, we have got to vote this guy out, and then we need a fucking reset on the Imperial Presidency.

Dems should immediately write legislation to accomplish all that so Republicans can stop it… Because you know they will.