Latest news with #emergencyPowers
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Let's unpack Ashley Hinson's claims about God's will and Donald Trump
President Donald Trump has been testing the boundaries of presidential emergency powers in many ways, including raising tariffs on our allies, like Canada and Great Britain. He wrongly claims that our trade deficits with those countries are a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. This is much like former President Joe Biden tried to do with student loan forgiveness by claiming it was a national emergency under the Heroes Act passed during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are good reasons for Congress to cede specific powers to the president in the case of a real emergency, when there is need for very quick action to protect our national security. Neither of the examples above were emergencies or needed to protect our national security. Whenever Congress passes a bill that cedes specific congressional powers to the president in emergency situations, the bill should also require that Congress either confirm or reject emergency actions within a short period of time, say 30 days. There are several bills making their way through Congress to limit presidential emergency power. One bill, the Limiting Emergency Powers Act of 2025 (H.R. 125), would terminate any national emergency unless a joint resolution affirming the declaration is enacted within 30 days. Let your U.S. representative and senator know that you want them to support these efforts. Kurt Johnson, Urbandale At her recent town hall meetings, Rep. Ashley Hinson has expressed her belief that when a man tried to assassinate Donald Trump at a political rally last year in Butler County, Pennsylvania, God intervened to save his life, so that Trump could save the country. Setting aside the claim that Trump has been saving the country, Hinson's musings about God's motives and actions deserve a closer look. Recall that Trump was not the only one who needed saving that day. Fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, was shot and killed trying to shield his wife and daughters from bullets intended for Trump. If Hinson thinks that God intervened to save Trump, how are we to interpret God's apparent decision not to save Comperatore from the same shooter at the same crime scene? Yes, the Lord works in mysterious ways, which mere humans cannot always fathom (even if they have been elected to Congress). Ultimately, Hinson's oft-repeated comment about God protecting Trump is best understood as a naked effort to make sure the president knows just how much she worships him. Steve St. Clair, Decorah Like the other 101 CultureALL Ambassadors and Open Book storytellers, I am proud to share my culture throughout Iowa. Last year alone, our dynamic network of presenters delivered sensory-rich experiences to 62,945 participants in 44 communities at schools, retirement communities and corporations. I personally use music and a story about my own life to show the importance of valuing the cultures in our community. Whether it's through music and stories, artifacts and dance, games or art, CultureALL Ambassadors enrich the life of participants as well as presenters. These Ambassadors and Open Book storytellers receive an honorarium as a symbol of respect for their expertise, talents and commitment to sharing their cultures in ways that bring Iowans together. CultureALL cannot succeed without these Ambassadors and storytellers as well as the individuals and corporations who financially support the work of CultureALL. Happy birthday, CultureALL. Abe Goldstien, Des Moines President Donald Trump and Iowa Republicans are working overtime to cut $880 billion in Medicaid funding to pay for a grotesque tax cut for their fat cat donors. These cuts will hurt every Iowan's access to essential health care services. Whether you have private health insurance from your employer, Medicare or Medicaid, we all share the same doctors, nurses, specialists, emergency rooms and nursing home workers. When Republicans cut Medicaid insurance, all our health care providers have fewer financial resources to hire and pay the salaries and benefits of all the people that care for all of us. Iowa has a shortage of every type of health care provider, including doctors, nurses, direct care workers, pharmacists and emergency room staff. This is especially the case in rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. Cutting Medicaid insurance funding will only make these shortages grow and shutter rural providers. Cutting Medicaid will also increase the number of people without health insurance. Uninsured Iowans still get sick, need and get care. More uninsured Iowans will increase the financial stress already on the health care providers we all rely on when they are forced to eat the costs of caring for these uninsured patients. Iowa has a huge cancer problem. In 2025, 21,000 Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer. Do you think it will be easier to get cancer care for you or a family member by making it harder for fewer and overworked health care providers to care for you? Trump and Iowa Republicans are slashing Iowa's Medicaid insurance program to pay for more tax cuts so ultra rich people can become even richer. Meanwhile, everyday Iowans pay their taxes and struggle to get ahead and make ends meet. During his campaign, President Trump and many other Republican politicians promised that he would not cut Medicaid. Contact Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst now and tell them they have the power to keep Trump's promise or make him a liar. Joe Bolkcom, Des Moines This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Require Congress to ratify the president's emergency moves | Letters
Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Supreme Court rejects toy company's push for a quick decision on Trump's tariffs
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal from an Illinois toy company pushing for a quick decision on the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Learning Resources Inc. had asked the justices to take up the case soon, rather than let it continue to play out in lower courts. The company argues the tariffs and uncertainty are having a 'massive impact' on businesses around the country and the issue needs swift attention from the nation's highest court. The justices didn't explain their reasoning in the brief order rebuffing the appeal, but the Supreme Court is typically reluctant to take up cases before lower courts have decided. The company argues that the Republican president illegally imposed tariffs under an emergency powers law, bypassing Congress. It won an early victory in a lower court, but the order is on hold as an appeals court considers a similar ruling putting a broader block on Trump's tariffs. The appeals court has allowed Trump to continue collecting tariffs under the emergency powers law ahead of arguments set for late July. The Trump administration has defended the tariffs by arguing that the emergency powers law gives the president the authority to regulate imports during national emergencies and that the country's longtime trade deficit qualifies as a national emergency. ___
Fox News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
REP TROY A CARTER SR: Trump's overuse of emergency powers is an abuse of power
In his first 100 days back in office, President Donald Trump has invoked emergency powers more times than any modern president — eight times, according to NPR's Kat Lonsdorf. From declaring a "national energy emergency" despite no fuel shortage, to labeling a longstanding trade deficit as a threat to national security, Trump is using emergency declarations not to address urgent crises — but to ram through his domestic agenda while bypassing Congress. Let's be clear: emergency powers were never meant to serve as policy shortcuts. Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice rightly notes these powers exist to give presidents temporary flexibility during true emergencies — not to rewrite policy on the fly. Yet Trump has now declared 21 national emergencies across two terms, nearly doubling the rate of his predecessors. Scholars like Princeton's Kim Lane Scheppele have sounded the alarm: this is "pedal to the metal on executive power." As someone who studies the erosion of democracies around the world, Scheppele warns this is the very path authoritarianism often takes — through unchecked executive authority masquerading as urgency. Equally concerning is the White House's open admission that it will push these legal boundaries all the way to the Supreme Court. If successful, the result could permanently upend the constitutional balance of powers and embolden future presidents — of any party — to rule by decree. As a U.S. congressman, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and an adjunct professor of Political Science at Xavier University of Louisiana, I take seriously my oath to defend the Constitution. I will continue fighting against this gross abuse of power and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law — the same rule of law that has safeguarded this nation from tyranny for nearly 250 years. The framers of our Constitution understood that emergency powers, if left unchecked, could be a fast track to despotism. That's why they designed a system of checks and balances — not a system of one-man rule. We must not abandon that legacy now.
CBC
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Manitoba premier hints at using emergency powers to open up hotel rooms for wildfire evacuees
Manitoba's premier says his government could use emergency powers to free up hotel rooms for people who escaped the wildfires still raging in the province's north. Premier Wab Kinew told reporters Thursday the province along with partners in the hotel industry have opened thousands of rooms for the more than 21,000 people who've fled the fires — but that there's still many families sleeping on cots weeks after the government declared a provincewide state of emergency. "We have emergency powers. We've been very restrained in how we're using them and we don't want to use them," he said, calling on hotel operators sitting on rooms to voluntarily open them up for evacuees. "For those operators of hotels who aren't stepping up, we need to see more," he said. "We all know that there's more rooms out there that we could be tapping into." The premier made the remarks after landing in Winnipeg following a trip to the front lines of the battle against the largest wildfire currently raging in the province. For his final stop, Kinew toured the congregate shelter that's been set up to welcome evacuees in Thompson, about 400 kilometres north of Winnipeg as the crow flies. It's "pulling at the heartstrings when we see families with kids sleeping on cots in a hockey rink," he said. "There's rooms in Thompson people could be accessing and I'd like to see those opened up. There's rooms in other parts of the province.… We're not talking about forever here." Some First Nations leadership have been urging the province to free up the hotel rooms for evacuees. WATCH | Province takes over security at Winnipeg evacuee shelter amid safety concerns: Province takes over shelter security after wildfire evacuee safety concerns 5 hours ago Duration 2:38 Safety concerns have prompted the Manitoba government to take over security at a congregate shelter in Winnipeg for people fleeing from the 21 active wildfires in the province. Meanwhile, officials say rain and cooler weather have helped to fight the fires, but hotter, drier weather is raising the fire danger. Last week, Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias wrote a letter calling on the government to use emergency measures to make the rooms available. Kinew said he hasn't heard feedback from any hotels declining to host evacuees, but that the province has "a lot of data" about the rooms that are currently occupied. "I feel confident saying we know that there's more that some in the hotel sector can do," he said. Flin Flon 'like a scene out of a movie': premier The premier started Thursday's tour in Bakers Narrows — where firefighters are staging their response to the fire threatening the City of Flin Flon and other communities. The province's largest fire was 307,780 hectares as of the latest fire bulletin Thursday afternoon. "What really strikes me is that we're in a helicopter there with somebody who's been in the Manitoba Wildfire Service for decades and they say you'd have a big fire, you know, once every eight years or so," Kinew said. "Now, it's every single year we're getting these massive blazes and they're happening earlier and its going later into the year." After Bakers Narrows, the premier went into Flin Flon, where roughly 5,000 people have been forced out of their homes. The city is about 630 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. "If you've ever been to Flin Flon, it's a city like many others in Manitoba," Kinew said, noting the usually busy streets are now deserted. "You go there right, now, it's like a scene out of a movie." Kinew said he met firefighters from all over the province in Flin Flon, including volunteers using their vacation time to help out as well as recently trained First Nations firefighters. He also said he met people coming from the U.S. and thanked them for stepping up. The crews have "held this huge, massive wildfire at bay. The biggest wildfire that we can recall being on their doorstep, and they've done it by working together," he said. "It's amazing just to see the co-operation to protect such an iconic city."
Malay Mail
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
US scholars warn of ‘dictatorial drift' as Trump invokes eight emergency powers since return to office
WASHINGTON, June 12 —Tariffs, immigration, energy: In all these areas, Donald Trump has granted himself exceptional and broad presidential powers by declaring 'emergency' situations that his critics insist do not exist. 'In the United States, there is no tradition of emergency powers (granted to the president) under the Constitution,' New York University professor Noah Rosenblum told AFP. But various laws allow the commander-in-chief's powers to be expanded on an exceptional—and usually temporary—basis. Historically such emergency powers have been invoked to deal with natural disasters, to deploy responders or troops, and to unlock critical funding. 'But that, of course, is not how Donald Trump is using it,' Rosenblum said. Since returning to the White House on January 20, the Republican president has repeatedly invoked states of emergency in a variety of areas—eight times in all, according to National Public Radio—thus green-lighting swift and forceful intervention on his administration's part. They have had little to do with hurricanes, floods or earthquakes. On his first day in office, Trump declared a 'national energy emergency' in the United States—the world's leading oil producer. By early April, frustrated by the trade deficits the United States had with many countries, including some imbalances going back decades, Trump declared a national emergency, among other reasons, 'to increase our competitive edge,' the White House said. The result? Tariffs slapped on adversaries and allies alike. The flow of migrants arriving from Mexico has prompted Trump to declare a state of emergency at the US southern border, and he apparently feels empowered to respond with massive import duties, or forced deportations of undocumented migrants. 'Aspiring autocrat' Now, Trump has sent the US military into Los Angeles to quell protests, invoking a seldom-used law that allows the president to deploy National Guard units if there is a 'rebellion or danger of rebellion.' The move countered the wishes of local authorities and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused Trump of a 'dictatorial' drift. 'The president is simply announcing emergencies when there aren't any,' said Frank Bowman, a law professor at the University of Missouri, noting how local police have said they are capable of handling clashes with protesters opposed to raids by immigration agents. 'All of these grants of potential emergency powers really don't account for the election of a president like Mr. Trump, who is not entirely rational, who is not dedicated to the rule of law, who is, in fact, an aspiring autocrat who is looking... to exercise extraordinary power,' Bowman told AFP. Trump is not the first US leader to invoke exceptional circumstances to justify such moves, even if he does so in a way without precedent. His Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, for example, decided to forgive student debt given the 'emergency' created by the Covid pandemic. The conservative-leaning Supreme Court was not convinced, however, and blocked the plan. Eisenhower and Nixon In Trump's case, will the courts, which have been flooded by lawsuits, affirm the legality of actions taken in the name of imminent peril? The tendency of judges 'in these kinds of things is to defer pretty heavily to the president,' Bowman said. On Thursday, a California court will consider a request by Governor Newsom to suspend Trump's troop deployment. In a filing to the court, the administration said Trump's judgment has historical precedent. Courts did not interfere when President Dwight Eisenhower sent troops to protect school desegregation or when Richard Nixon deployed the military to deliver the mail during a postal workers' strike, 'and courts should not interfere here either,' it said. Beyond the legal tussles, the relentless use of the language of urgency, of imminent threat or national peril, is part of a broader strategy, professor Rosenblum stressed. Trump, he said, 'is using the perpetual rhetoric of emergency to keep us perpetually riled up and either on the defensive and so increasingly exhausted or scared and aggressive—and so demanding government intervention.' — AFP
