President Obama: "not going to be waiting for legislation," "I've got a pen."

President Obama has already been  ruling by executive fiat in many of his actions.  An example is that without authority to do so he delayed for a year implementation of portions of the Affordable Care Act. What would be the difference if a Republican president decided to delay forever the implementation of the Affordable Care Act?  Or, what if a future president decided unilaterally to suspend the Affordable Care Act? The President does not have the authority to decide he will not implement a law. We are not to be governed by the will of the President but we are to be a nation of laws. Now, the President seems to be threatening to expand emergency unemployment benefits even if not passed by Congress.  The President does not have that authority! I generally am not an alarmist, but this is frightening. If he can extend unemployment benefits by executive order what else can he do? 

Below are remarks by the President.

But one of the things that I’ll be emphasizing in this meeting is the fact that we are not just going to be waiting for a legislation in order to make sure that we’re providing Americans the kind of help that they need. I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone -- and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward in helping to make sure our kids are getting the best education possible and making sure that our businesses are getting the kind of support and help they need to grow and advance to make sure that people are getting the skills that they need to get those jobs that our businesses are creating.(link)

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