Monthly Archives: April 2016

Sanders, Trump Voters Aren’t Wrong

BY B. JAY COOPER
APR 20 | Reprinted from The Screaming Moderate (bjaycooper.com)

Before we even are positive who the two candidates will be for the two political parties (though Hillary is a sure thing and Trump is the favorite), there are key takeaways from this primary season. And they are takeaways that elected officials – at all levels – should take seriously. They are not one-year wonders.

Bernie Sanders has delivered a message of the inequities of the economic system – the 1 per cent getting richer and the 99 percent paying more taxes. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are delivering messages that the grassroots of the GOP want progress from their elected officials, not broken promises. Continue reading

Reforming Washington: What Congress Can Learn From “Undercover Boss”

BY NEIL BRADLEY
APR 10 | Reprinted from Medium.com

 

There is increasing interest in Congress and among conservatives about how to restore the powers and responsibilities of Congress in making laws and exercising oversight of the federal government. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) recently launched the Article 1 Project. One of Speaker Ryan’s (R-WI) six agenda task forces is dedicated to restoring constitutional authority. These are important efforts.

There is a temptation in these efforts to focus almost exclusively on what rules within Congress should be changed or what new laws can be enacted to restrain the executive branch. While rules changes and new laws are necessary, they are insufficient and, as we have seen with measures like the REINS Act, can be difficult to enact. While continuing to work on changes in rules and statutes, those concerned with restoring the powers of Congress ought to also think about what operational changes they can effectuate right now to assert more authority over the executive branch. Continue reading