Recent content by RogerCooper

"regulate" does not mean "tax" despite what the Trump administration says.

As a speaker of the English language I can read the law just like anyone else. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/1702. My focus is on the IEEPA because that is what Trump used. Here is the relevant section of the law. Not a word on tariffs.

That Trump might be able to make a tariff under section 232 does not give him the authority to issue tariffs under IEEPA anymore than Biden's authority to modify student loan terms under certain specific programs gave him general authority to cancel student debt.

Trump used the IEEPA which does not grant any tariff authority. Read the law.

Those debt cancellations were allowed under various programs passed by Congress. The broader debt program cancellation was stopped by the courts because it was not passed by Congress. Trump's tariffs were not passed by Congress. And Americans are paying them now.

Concerns about the small but real possibility of war with China can reasonably justify trying to secure alternate sources of war-critical material. That hardly applies to our allies. Let smelting be done were ever it would most profitable.

I am quite critical of Biden's proposal to cancel student loans (effectively spending money) without congressional approval. But he did not actually implement the cancellation of loans. Trump is actually collecting taxes from Americans right now.

What you make of Trump's statements about reviving American manufacturing? Or his tariffs on countries he previously negotiated free trade agreements with? "My plan includes a pledge to restore manufacturing in the United States." - Trump

The Trump say contradictory things. Is he trying to revive American manufacturing with protectionist tariffs or trying to negotiate zero-zero tariffs? These are contradictory goals. You tell me what he means.

The Constitution makes no mention of "Emergency Powers". All the other powers are limited, not broad. Limited powers is the entire point of the Constitution.

The IEEPA does not grant any power to impose tariffs. There are other laws that can be used to impose tariffs such as section 232, but Trump did not use those laws (probably because of the procedural requirements). The constitutionality of Presidential tariffs under section 232 is a separate issue.

What clause in the Constitution gives the President broad powers? What it states is that the President must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed". There is nothing that states that he can do whatever he wants unless specifically prohibited. Nor is there an exception for stupid laws...

His IEEPA tariffs for starters. Biden's actions with regard to student debt were beyond what the law allowed, but the law did give the President some authority to cancel student debt. The IEEPA gives no tariff authority to Trump.

Good. Do you condemn Trump's unconstitutional actions?

Do you think Biden's actions were proper?