Cowed by Trump, congressional Republicans abdicate

By Carl P. Leubsdorf / The Dallas Morning News

The first six months of President Donald Trump’s second administration have brought an unprecedented expansion of presidential power. They’ve also brought an unprecedented abdication of congressional authority.

Fearful of incurring Trump’s wrath — and perhaps primary opposition — Republican lawmakers have voted to confirm unqualified nominees, and rubber-stamped Medicaid cuts they acknowledged would hurt their constituents, often after proclaiming publicly they would never do so.

Oversight committees, which are supposed to police the executive branch’s management of legislation, are ignoring the administration’s unconstitutional dismantling of statutory agencies and programs; and complaining about the federal judges who are seeking to protect them.

Some members who represent swing districts or states with thousands of Medicaid recipients may face the wrath of voters next year. All of them should.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-cowed-by-trump-congressional-republicans-abdicate/