Sign and send the petition to your members of Congress: Please reassert congressional authority over tariffs
Against the advice of virtually all economists, Donald Trump single-handedly plunged the world into economic chaos with his sweeping tariffs.
It is wrong that a single person can do this, without any checks and balances.
In the United States, tariffs have the force of law. In order to pass a new law in the United States, or to repeal an old one, it is necessary for both Congress and the President to agree. This should be the case for tariffs: both Congress and the President have to agree.
To solve this urgent problem, and to restore checks and balances to our system, members of both parties in Congress are rapidly signing onto bipartisan legislation that would reassert congressional authority over tariffs. In the Senate, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, have introduced new legislation that would "require the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of such an imposition and for Congress to explicitly approve any new tariffs within 60 days. The bill also would allow Congress to end any tariff at any time." As of this writing, seven Democrats and six Republicans have already signed onto this legislation. A companion bill has been introduced in the House, also with bipartisan support.
Whatever form it ultimately takes, members of Congress need to sign on to legislation to reassert congressional authority over tariffs, the same way that Congress has authority over other federal laws. Since Donald Trump will oppose any restrictions on his power, any such legislation will require a veto proof majority in order to become law. However, given the strong bipartisan support for these bills so far, it does not seem impossible that we can achieve such a majority.
Please, sign and send a letter to your member of the House of Representatives, as well as your two U.S. senators, urging them to fight for bipartisan legislation that would reassert congressional authority over tariffs.
Notes:
1. When sending letters, you will be required to select a topic for the letter. Every congressional office maintains its own list of topics, so I do not know what topics you will choose from. However, something about "economy" or "foreign affairs" might work.
2. You will also be required to give your phone number. However, this is just standard practice for contacting Congress. Completing this form will not result in receiving texts from anyone at all, and will result in receiving emails only from Bowers News Media.
3. The sample letter you will be asked to send reads:
Subject line: Please reassert congressional authority over tariffs.
In the United States, tariffs have the force of federal law. In order to pass a new federal law in the United States, or to repeal an old one, it is necessary for both Congress and the President to agree. This should be the case for tariffs: both Congress and the President have to agree.
Please support bipartisan legislation of the sort introduced by Sens. Grassley and Cantwell in the Senate, or Rep. Bacon in the House, that would reassert congressional authority over United States tariff policy. Thank you.
It is wrong that a single person can do this, without any checks and balances.
In the United States, tariffs have the force of law. In order to pass a new law in the United States, or to repeal an old one, it is necessary for both Congress and the President to agree. This should be the case for tariffs: both Congress and the President have to agree.
To solve this urgent problem, and to restore checks and balances to our system, members of both parties in Congress are rapidly signing onto bipartisan legislation that would reassert congressional authority over tariffs. In the Senate, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, have introduced new legislation that would "require the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of such an imposition and for Congress to explicitly approve any new tariffs within 60 days. The bill also would allow Congress to end any tariff at any time." As of this writing, seven Democrats and six Republicans have already signed onto this legislation. A companion bill has been introduced in the House, also with bipartisan support.
Whatever form it ultimately takes, members of Congress need to sign on to legislation to reassert congressional authority over tariffs, the same way that Congress has authority over other federal laws. Since Donald Trump will oppose any restrictions on his power, any such legislation will require a veto proof majority in order to become law. However, given the strong bipartisan support for these bills so far, it does not seem impossible that we can achieve such a majority.
Please, sign and send a letter to your member of the House of Representatives, as well as your two U.S. senators, urging them to fight for bipartisan legislation that would reassert congressional authority over tariffs.
Notes:
1. When sending letters, you will be required to select a topic for the letter. Every congressional office maintains its own list of topics, so I do not know what topics you will choose from. However, something about "economy" or "foreign affairs" might work.
2. You will also be required to give your phone number. However, this is just standard practice for contacting Congress. Completing this form will not result in receiving texts from anyone at all, and will result in receiving emails only from Bowers News Media.
3. The sample letter you will be asked to send reads:
Subject line: Please reassert congressional authority over tariffs.
In the United States, tariffs have the force of federal law. In order to pass a new federal law in the United States, or to repeal an old one, it is necessary for both Congress and the President to agree. This should be the case for tariffs: both Congress and the President have to agree.
Please support bipartisan legislation of the sort introduced by Sens. Grassley and Cantwell in the Senate, or Rep. Bacon in the House, that would reassert congressional authority over United States tariff policy. Thank you.
