Grassley Criticizes Congress for Delegating Excessive Power to the President

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has voiced strong criticism against Congress, arguing that the institution has “violated the Constitution” by delegating too much power to the office of the president. Specifically, Grassley is concerned about the authority given to the president to enact tariffs without Congressional approval.

Grassley, the longest-serving Republican in Congressional history and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, pointed out that past legislation, such as the 1963 tariff legislation supposedly for national security, has granted the president significant authority over trade policies. He noted that President-Elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to impose tariffs, including a 20-percent tax on all imports and up to 60-percent on goods from China, could be enacted without needing Congressional approval.

Grassley’s criticism extends beyond recent actions, suggesting that this trend of delegating power to the executive branch has been ongoing for decades. He emphasized that the Constitution states all legislative power should be vested in Congress, but excessive delegation undermines this principle.

Recent actions by the U.S. Supreme Court have also addressed this issue, with the Court indicating that Congress should not delegate so much authority to the executive branch unless it is specifically spelled out in the law. Grassley sees this as a positive step, with the Supreme Court acting as a check on such delegations in the future.

The potential tariffs, particularly the threatened 60-percent tariff on goods from China, are troubling for American companies that rely on Chinese parts, as they could lead to significant price increases for consumers.