Congress Votes to Control Federal Spending

Congress suffered a dangerous outbreak of constitutional government Tuesday when the House voted to require the executive branch to spend federal money according to laws passed by Congress. The measure invoked the legislature’s obscure Article I authority over appropriations, a provision long regarded in Washington as decorative language added to keep the Constitution from looking underwritten. Several lawmakers reportedly discovered the power while searching the document for the clause guaranteeing unlimited television appearances.

The vote unsettled administration officials, who had assumed Congress’s financial responsibilities were limited to raising money, blaming deficits on the other party and approving emergency funding five minutes before a shutdown. “Nobody knew Congress could decide where money goes,” President Donald Trump said. “I know budgets better than anybody, and the president gets all the money because he is president. That is what the Founders wanted, especially George Washington, who was very strong on executive flexibility.” Trump added that requiring presidents to obey spending laws would create chaos by preventing them from treating congressional appropriations as thoughtful suggestions from a committee no one watches.

Government experts warned that allowing lawmakers to exercise an authority explicitly assigned to lawmakers could establish a ruinous precedent. Congress might next conduct oversight, enforce subpoenas, read legislation before voting on it or remain in Washington through an entire Thursday afternoon. Republican supporters emphasized that they had not become socialists and had merely experienced brief, involuntary contact with the separation of powers. Democrats celebrated the rediscovery of congressional authority, although several members appeared uncertain whether it belonged to the House, the Senate or whichever chamber had the better fundraising list.

Speaker Mike Johnson moved quickly to contain the constitutional contagion by scheduling a recess, allowing representatives to return home and explain that government cannot function without risking further attempts to make it function. The White House prepared to treat the measure with the respect traditionally reserved for subpoenas, ethics rules and restaurant checks placed near the wealthiest person at the table. By nightfall, congressional leaders had reassured donors that the outbreak was isolated and that no sustained governing was expected. The vote established that the gravest threat to limited government is Congress using its constitutional limits.

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