Opinion | Why Won’t Congress Use Its Power?

A lot happened this week. “Melissa made landfall unlike any other hurricane.” “I order the Pentagon to continue nuclear testing.” “Indiana dives into the nationwide gerrymandering fight.” “We have restructured as a for-profit company.” Here’s something you shouldn’t miss. On Tuesday, the Senate voted to block President Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, which are causing prices of coffee, beef and bananas to soar. So the president doesn’t really have the authority to announce tariffs. Trump did so by declaring a national emergency over the summer. “When you think of an emergency, what comes to your mind? You think of a war, a hurricane, a famine. You don’t think about trade policy.” But what’s notable here is the Senate vote of 52 to 48. That’s five Republicans joining Democrats to block Trump’s tariffs, which makes you wonder: If these Republicans can resist Trump’s tariffs, why don’t they show the backbone to prevent millions of Americans from going hungry? “SNAP benefits for millions of Americans are about to be suspended.” Preventing health care costs from skyrocketing for 20 million Americans. “We could see that the price they paid increased by an average of 75 percent.” To prevent the military from unilaterally blowing up boats and killing people when Congress hasn’t declared war. “This is the sixth boat the US military has shot down in international waters, killing at least 29 people.” Using oversight powers to prevent abuse by federal agencies. “Federal agents are coming to the Halloween parade in Chicago.” The answer can only be that congressional Republicans accept these things because they have the power to stop them and they don’t. Remember, the founders gave Congress some of the most important government powers, including budget authority, war power, and the power to regulate foreign commerce. They wanted Congress to be the most dominant branch. Today it is the weakest. But it’s their choice. And the fact that the Senate had enough courage to block Trump’s tariffs shows how little they’ve done in the last nine months. It’s true that what we see from the executive branch may be shocking, but what we don’t see from Congress should be equally frightening.