Congress Briefly Remembers It Controls Tariffs

Congress triggered a constitutional disturbance Thursday by briefly remembering that it is one of the three branches of the federal government. The House voted 214-208 to require congressional approval for sweeping tariffs imposed under emergency authority, with four Republicans joining Democrats in the dangerous suggestion that Article I contains verbs. The Senate demonstrated greater institutional discipline by rejecting a companion measure and restoring lawmakers to their customary economic role of discovering national trade policy through presidential social-media posts.

President Donald Trump informed lawmakers that each new tariff announcement created a fresh emergency, allowing the White House to restart its authority whenever the previous justification approached scrutiny. The method resembles repeatedly claiming an introductory streaming discount with a new email address, except the monthly fee is collected from American importers and renamed a payment from foreigners. “Congress has tremendous power, more power than anybody, but they should never use it because I already used it for them,” Trump explained. “The Founders were very clear that tariffs belong to the president, especially a president who understands trade better than every economist and also Congress.” Constitutional scholars said the doctrine modernizes separation of powers by assigning the powers to one person and preserving the separation for everyone else.

Sen. Rand Paul and other lawmakers argued that Congress possesses constitutional authority over duties and commerce, an incendiary theory that could require members to read legislation, accept responsibility and publicly record whether they support higher consumer prices. Those activities have long been considered hazardous to reelection. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended congressional oversight while cautioning against the radical interpretation that oversight should restrain a president, alter policy or produce any observable result. Officials assured Americans that the dispute remains safely contained in Washington, where the House may vote, the Senate may decline, Trump may announce another tariff before lunch and every participant may declare the constitutional system healthy. Congress has therefore reclaimed its authority by formally deciding not to exercise it.

* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.