Congress Defends Its Power By Giving More To Trump
Congress will consider the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act next week, offering lawmakers a historic opportunity to defend the legislative branch by transferring another portion of it to President Donald Trump. The Senate approved the measure 86-11 in August, concluding that Congress can best confront Russian aggression by authorizing the president to decide whether, when and against whom Congress meant to act. The bill targets Russian officials, financial institutions, energy projects and Moscow’s shadow fleet while permitting Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas. He may also waive the restrictions whenever he determines that Americans have purchased enough expensive appliances to frighten Vladimir Putin.
Trump praised the legislation’s streamlined method of making foreign governments suffer through higher prices at American checkout counters. “Nobody understands sanctions like me. A sanction is when China buys Russian oil and an American family pays twice as much for a toaster. That’s leverage, tremendous leverage, and Russia hates every toaster.” The arrangement allows Trump to punish adversaries, allies or any country whose leader failed to compliment him during the previous news cycle. It also preserves the constitutional principle that tariff policy should be written by whichever person happens to be watching television in the Oval Office.
House Democrats Gregory Meeks, Richard Neal and Don Beyer objected that the bill expands presidential tariff authority without requiring sanctions on Russia, reviving the radical theory that legislation should specify what the government must do. Supporters rejected that antiquated reading, noting that modern statutes function more efficiently as laminated menus of optional powers. Under the measure, Congress can spend several days condemning Moscow, authorize policies Trump may ignore or redirect, and then issue statements insisting it stood firmly against Russia regardless of the eventual target. Members may campaign as defenders of institutional checks and balances after checking every box marked “president decides.” The bill therefore restores congressional authority through its complete and deliberate surrender.
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