Trump’s bypassing of Congress with his four executive orders yesterday was brilliant politically! He has not been known as a good politician ... but he just proved the pundits wrong. Yes, these executive orders may not pass judicial muster ... but they do show the American public what the Republicans are willing to do ... and what the Democrats are unwilling to do ... and may actually force the Dems back to the bargaining table. His executive orders did the following:
- temporarily suspended the payroll tax (social security tax) through the end of the year
- reinstated the prohibition against evictions due to lack of rental payments
- augmented state unemployment benefits by $400 per week (replaced the expired $600 per week)
- suspended student loan repayment through the end of the year ... and continued zero interest costs for same
Nancy Pelosi had thought she had a winner with her $3 trillion “my way or the highway” boondoggle ... and she did have the Republicans boxed in. So, what did the Orangeman do? He went outside the box and showed America how far he was willing to go. I believe that these executive orders might be vacated by the courts ... and possibly should be. But Trump has made his political hay ... while the sun wasn’t shining. And I expect the American people will appreciate his efforts.
Of his four executive orders, his only error might be his temporary suspension of the payroll tax for people earning less than $100,000 per year. The problem here is that many retired people and people on Medicaid automatically jump to the conclusion that their benefits will be jeopardized ... and the Dems will be sure to try to push this half truth. But this needs to be recognized as a potential problem and maybe needs to be let slide.
(Interesting sidelight: Trump’s aggressiveness with these executive actions may be inspired by the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of President Obama’s executive order protecting illegal immigrant children, known as DACA).
STAND UP FOR AMERICA!