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Task Force on Executive Overreach to Hold First Hearing on Congress’ Constitutional Authority

February 24, 2016
Washington, D.C.  – On Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., the Task Force on Executive Overreach will hold its first hearing titled “The Original Understanding of Congress’ Role and How Far We’ve Drifted from It.” In writing the U.S. Constitution, the Founders provided the House of Representatives – known as the “People’s House” for its most direct connection to the will of the people – legislative power and the authority to originate revenue bills. The Founders expected the House to aggressively guard its role in the constitutional legislative process. Today, however, Congress exercises far less control over budget and other matters than was originally intended.  For example, whereas early Congresses specified exactly how much money would be spent for how long, many federal programs today, enacted by Congresses decades ago, are administered by the executive branch and funded on an auto-pilot basis, their allocations increasing automatically, by statute, without the need for any periodic review by Congress. Compounding this issue is an executive branch that in recent decades has sought to usurp Congress’ authority and legislate on its own. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough recently said “audacious” executive actions are being crafted to “make sure the steps we have taken are ones we can lock down and not be subjected to undoing through [Congress] or otherwise,” beyond even those unconstitutional actions the President has already taken. Witnesses for next week’s hearing are:
  • Mr. Matthew Spalding, Associate Vice President and Dean of Educational Programs Hillsdale College, Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship
  • Mr. James C. Capretta, Visiting Fellow, American Enterprise Institute and Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
  • Mr. Joseph Postell, Assistant Professor of Political Science University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
  • A Democratic witness to be named
Below is a statement from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Task Force, on next week’s hearing. “Members of the House of Representatives are the closest to the will of the American people as they are more frequently held accountable by voters and elected every two years. For this reason, our Founding Fathers provided the House of Representatives legislative and budgetary power, including the exclusive authority to originate revenue bills.“Next week, the Task Force on Executive Overreach will hold its first hearing on Congress’ role as set forth by the Framers of our Constitution and how far we’ve drifted from it. As the executive branch continues to go beyond its authority and drive us closer to a constitutional crisis, Congress must assert its power to rein in a runaway executive branch and restore the separation of powers.” Background on the Task Force: The Task Force on Executive Overreach is authorized for six months and will study the impact the increase in presidential and executive branch power has had on the ability of Congress to conduct oversight of the executive branch, the lack of transparency that furthers unchecked executive power, and the constitutional requirement of the President to faithfully execute the law. Additionally, the task force will review the tools at the disposal of the Congress to restore the proper balance of powers and hold the executive branch accountable. It will also make recommendations where there are deficiencies, including legislative solutions. This hearing will take place in 2237 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at /. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally-credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.