Did you know the White House has yet to relinquish the emergency powers that locked you in your home for months and shut down the economy nationwide?
In March 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency “to unleash the full power of the federal government,” simultaneously unleashing substantial federal funds in the process.
Two weeks turned into two months; two months turned into two years; two years turned into three. This time in history has served as a grave reminder that those in power will never vote to limit themselves.
After continuous extensions to the government's "emergency" powers, the House approved The Pandemic is Over Act in a 220-210 vote Tuesday evening. The act would forcefully end the COVID-19 national emergency and the public health emergency respectively.
A second resolution has also been introduced calling for an end to the emergency status.
While this is positive news for self-governing Americans, it's not so favorable to some politicians whose power will slip away – for the same reason some oppose calling a Convention of States.
Congress's demand on the executive branch is reminiscent of a particularly rotund child instructed by his parents to cut out the sprinkles from his daily Costco-sized tub of rich, make-your-stomach-sick ice cream.
However, just as we might expect from our chubby little friend, the White House is indignant at this long-time coming limit on power.
The White House pinky promised on Monday to extend the emergency powers only once more until May 11. In a statement opposing the bills, the executive branch argues that an “abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos” throughout the healthcare system. Additionally, the White House warns of a “substantial inflow of migrants” at the border if the act becomes law.
Nothing about this call for termination of emergency powers is “abrupt.” In fact, it is long overdue. The panic of the White House tips its hand.
Rather than building a robust healthcare system that could stand on its own two legs, or addressing the tremendous influx at the southern border, our federal government assumed its citizens would never call them to account and the newly apportioned power would be permanent.
In a somewhat threatening conclusion, the White House shifted blame to the legislative branch. “Congress will effectively be requiring the Administration to allow thousands of migrants per day into the country immediately.”
Why should Congress or We the People allow an administration that has proven itself inept at every turn to continue wielding power allegedly to fix its ineptitude?
It is high time to take the tub of sugar-crazed power from the hands of this greedy bunch.
