Senator Mullin claims Congress abdicates tariff authority to president due to inefficiency
- Senator Markwayne Mullin remarked that Congress has ceded substantial tariff authority to the president due to its slow operational pace.
- Critics express concern over the extensive power held by the president to impose tariffs unilaterally.
- The ongoing debate raises important questions about the role and effectiveness of Congress in current governance.
In a recent broadcast of NewsNation's 'On Balance', Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma discussed the significant powers granted to the president regarding tariffs. This delegation of authority stemmed from Congress's historically slow pace in decision-making. Mullin emphasized the importance of being able to react quickly to market changes, arguing that tariffs must be applied promptly and cannot be delayed by legislative processes. This discussion coincides with concerns raised about the substantial tariff powers held by the president, which were incrementally transferred to the executive branch starting in 1934 and continuing through the 1970s. Mullin acknowledged the hypothetical risks associated with vast executive power over tariffs, which could allow future presidents, regardless of party, to impose extreme tariffs at will. He noted that such powers should ideally be held by Congress but justified the current state as necessary for economic responsiveness. However, critics argue that this trend has created an imbalance, allowing presidents to act unilaterally and, at times, to defy congressional mandates, as seen in the case of tariffs and the TikTok divestment law. The ongoing delegation of power raises questions about Congress's relevance and effectiveness as a legislative body in the current political landscape. The reluctance of congressional Republicans to regain tariff powers from the presidency indicates a troubling complicity in this trend, which some believe undermines constitutional principles of federalism and checks and balances.