Sept. 12, 2014, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging both chambers of Congress to take up legislation on the White House’s proposed war against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria:
“If the war against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is important enough for the U.S. to fight, then it is important enough for Congress to vote on. Obama cannot go to war unilaterally without Congress, yet that is precisely what his administration seeks to do in order to spare congressional Democrats a tough vote on the eve of the midterm elections. Last time we checked, constitutional provisions such as Congress’ war-making powers can neither be suspended by presidential fiat nor for cynical, political calculations.
“This is a subversion of the Constitution of the highest order, and Congress must act immediately to preserve the separation of powers. There should be votes on Obama’s war, whether it would pass or not. The people’s representatives must have their say on when the nation goes to war, or else members of Congress of both parties will be complicit in this abdication of power.”
Attachments:
“Obama still needs Congress to go to war into Syria,” By Robert Romano, senior editor, Americans for Limited Government, Sept. 12, 2014 at http://netrightdaily.com/2014/09/obama-still-needs-congress-go-war-syria/
“Obama’s betrayal of the Constitution,” By Bruce Ackerman, Yale Law School professor, Sept. 12, 2014 at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/opinion/obamas-betrayal-of-the-constitution.html
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.
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