Obama tells Cabinet to find areas open to executive action
WASHINGTON Tue Jul 1, 2014 12:42pm EDT
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama told his Cabinet on Tuesday to look for areas where he might be able to govern by executive action given gridlock in Congress that is hampering his agenda.
In a White House meeting, Obama brought together the top officials in his government a day after conceding that a deadlocked Congress will prompt him to act on his own authority where he can on an immigration overhaul.
Obama said he wants to work with Congress where possible, "but if Congress is unable to do it," then he said his Cabinet officials and agency heads should look for areas where executive actions can "show some real progress."
"The people who sent us here, they just don’t feel as if anybody is fighting for them or working them. We’re not always going to be able to get things through Congress ... but we sure as heck can make sure that the folks back home know that we are pushing their agenda and that we’re working hard on their behalf," Obama said.
"but we sure as heck can make sure that the folks back home know that we are pushing their agenda and that we’re working hard on their behalf."
When is someone going to tell this Constitutional expert a lack of action (always in his terms, of course) is what the folks back home have chosen by electing representatives who cannot agree with one another. It may be inefficient and frustrating but that is exactly how the system is designed and for good reason.
If his Highness wants his programs to be adopted he has to propose measures which appeal to a majority of the Congress. He might also do well to tell Harry Greid to allow Senate votes on House proposals.
"It's inexcusable, and Americans are right to be angry about it, and I am angry about it. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in any agency, but especially in the IRS, given the power that it has and the reach that it has into all of our lives. ... I'll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable. ..." -- President Barack Obama condemning "misconduct" at the Internal Revenue Service, May 15, 2013.