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Grassley’s power grab sets dangerous precedent

6/29/2016

 

Sen. Charles Grassley’s blockade of the Supreme Court confirmation process sets in motion a dangerous precedent for future presidents. Grassley and his Republican allies claim they have the right to freeze the Supreme Court confirmation process and refuse to hold hearings based on regaining the Senate majority in the 2014 mid-term election. This totally absurd claim that mid-term elections limit the president’s power to get his nominees confirmed is an extremely risky and unprecedented power grab by Grassley and the Republicans. Grassley said, “Voters rejected President Obama’s policies in 2014 when they revoked the Democrats’ Senate majority.” The Founding Fathers carefully and thoughtfully balanced the three branches of government, giving each limited powers. Grassley’s extraordinary limiting of a president’s appointment power is in direct violation of the constitutional separation of powers. Grassley’s arrogant and unparalleled power grab destroys that balance by arbitrarily limiting the president’s confirmation responsibilities. Grassley’s astonishing unilateral action exceeds his constitutional authority as Judiciary Chair and sets in motion future court crisis with disastrous consequences. Based on Grassley’s defective reasoning, what will prevent the opposition party that takes control of the Senate in the mid-term elections from refusing to confirm any of that president’s appointments?

Rick Smith

Urbandale

CNA - Stop HIV Iowa

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