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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBoehner ready to punt on ISIS vote until 2015
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/boehner-ready-punt-isis-vote-until-2015
Boehner ready to punt on ISIS vote until 2015
09/25/14 10:42 AMUpdated 09/25/14 10:52 AM
By Steve Benen
It was Aug. 8, seven weeks ago tomorrow, that President Obama launched U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq. It was this week when the president expanded the mission to include strikes on ISIS targets in Syria.
And it was last week when Congress decided to give itself another 54 days off, rather than extend legal authority to the Obama administration to conduct this military offensive.
Most of us have been working under the assumption that Congress had one of two options: (1) debate the use of force during Congress post-election, lame-duck session; or (2) return to work before the election to do its duty and meet its constitutional obligations.
But in a new interview with Carl Hulse, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) points to Door #3 also known as See You Next Year.
Doing this with a whole group of members who are on their way out the door, I dont think that is the right way to handle this, he said.
Mr. Boehner, who is open to a more expansive military campaign to destroy the Islamic State, thinks lawmakers should take up the issue after the new Congress convenes in January. At that time, he said, President Obama should come forward with a proposal for consideration.
Greg Sargent noted in response, You have to love the idea that this is too weighty a decision to make during the lame duck session, but not weighty enough to vote on before the escalation actually launched, let alone before an election in which voters deserve to know where lawmakers stand on a matter of such great consequence.
Indeed, its difficult to think of a defense for Boehners new posture.
Not to put too fine a point on this, but Americans elect members to specific terms, during which theyre expected to meet their obligations. The key word in lame-duck session is session these elected federal lawmakers have jobs to do, and the fact that theyre nearing the end of their term doesnt negate the fact that theres important work to do.
Boehner makes it sound as if Congress is high school, and everyone can just coast for the last couple of weeks after final exams. Thats crazy the United States is engaged in combat operations and the peoples elected representatives arent supposed to just take a pass on the crisis for the sake of convenience.
As for the notion that the White House should come forward with a proposal, Id remind the Speaker that Congress is a co-equal branch of government. Waiting for the executive branch to write a draft resolution for the legislative branch isnt a requirement but Congress approving wars is.
As we talked about yesterday, Americans can take every Republican anti-Obama argument of late about separation of powers, about co-equal branches of government, about the importance of institutional checks and balances and throw them right out the window, confident in the knowledge that the GOP didnt mean a word of it. For all the chatter about the president being an out-of-control, lawless tyrant, heres an instance in which Obama really is acting without any congressional authority, only to find congressional leaders saying, No big deal. Well think about doing something in a few months, maybe.
Fair-minded observers can debate the propriety of the presidents actions, but for over two centuries, presidents have gone as far as Congress will let them. Especially in times of war, every Commander in Chief has sought as much power and authority as he can muster.
Its up to Congress filled with members who spent the summer complaining about Obama golfing instead of working to meet its responsibilities. This Congress isnt even going through the motions. Lawmakers arent even keeping up appearances. Theyre not even trying.
I thought this Congress couldnt get any worse. I stand corrected.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)or have I misunderstood? What happens if we bomb bomb like crazy for 60 days and then stop??
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)They want to wait until next year to debate yet it is alright for our military to stand under fire in the protection of our nation. They are pathetic.
gopiscrap
(23,763 posts)former9thward
(32,068 posts)bigwillq
(72,790 posts)What a mess Congress and the President have created.
JustAnotherGen
(31,869 posts)In all the Holder threads. Needs a bump.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)he gave them all the cover they needed. Obama explicitly said he didn't need their approval but welcomed their but in.
Why all the hemming now about a lack of congressional approval. Obama said he didn't need it and he acted without it. He made it clear they Congress's role is superfluous.