Given its size (535 members), complexity of a broad range of legislative issues, partisan differences, and conflicting views between the two chambers, Congress sometimes proves to be an unwieldy place to produce bills that can be forwarded to the President of the U.S. to be signed into law. Currently, the presence of the coronavirus that is ravaging portions of the population creates a sense of urgency in dealing with important problems involving both health care and the economy. Whenever nettlesome situations occur in governance and action must be taken, it is not unusual for Presidents to rely on producing executive orders instead of continuing to wait for legislative solutions to emerge.
During the month of August 2020, President Donald Trump exercised that option by releasing a series of orders after Congress was unable to reach agreement on a new coronavirus relief package. Democrats in the House previously had approved a $3 trillion bill and offered to lower the amount to $2 trillion. White House officials remained steadfast, however, in supporting the Senate’s $1 trillion proposal, while some Senate Republicans have been opposed to any additional funding. In response to an inability to reach agreement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) then decided to recess the Senate after discussions collapsed on August 7. That legislative branch will not reconvene until September 8, but its members are prepared to return if the stalemate is overcome and a vote is scheduled.
The executive orders by President Trump include a payroll tax deferral for workers from September through December who make less than $100,000 a year, provision of weekly federal jobless benefits, expansion of a congressionally-approved eviction moratorium that expired in July 2020, relief for student borrowers, increased access to telehealth, support for rural hospitals, and the production of more drugs made in America while loosening federal drug-safety and environmental regulations that are perceived as placing domestic producers at a disadvantage. Perhaps the most controversial of these actions is the one involving the payroll tax deferral.
Democrats instantly expressed their disapproval by referring to where the “power of the purse” is vested. According to the U.S. Constitution. Article 1, Section 7, Clause 1: “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills.” The Constitution also contains the following provision in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 7: “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.” Some Republicans were not surprised at objections raised by Democrats, recalling that they also were upset when as part of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama issued an executive order creating subsidies for insurance companies, thereby spending money that had not been appropriated by Congress as the power of the purse demands.
The full impact of these actions by President Trump has yet to be determined. Given the litigious nature of much that characterizes the relationship between Congress and the White House, a likelihood remains that this new set of differences between them will be referred to the courts for a resolution.
More July-August 2020 TRENDS Articles
ANHEDONIA AND MORE PLEASURABLE TIMES
Indicates the kinds of changes that have occurred since COVID-19 made its appearance, including the flood of scientific papers about this disease that have been produced since January of this year. Read More
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
ASAHP President Phyllis King presents some reflections on impacts that the coronavirus has had on the health workforce. Read More
LEGISLATION VS. EXECUTIVE ORDERS
contains information about steps taken by the Trump Administration in response to Congressional deadlock in reaching agreement on a new coronavirus relief package. Read More
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Points out how disparities can result from housing policies outside the health domain that entail historic redlining and its effects on birth outcomes. Read More
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Describes financial aspects related to closing schools because of COVID-19, mental health services for students, and a new grant program aimed at enabling higher education institutions to emerge from the current pandemic better able to expand educational opportunities for students. Read More
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
The COVID-19 Pandemic And Exacerbation Of Intimate Partner Violence
Mental Health, Substance Use, And Suicidal Ideation During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Digital Biomarker Of Diabetes From Smartphone-Based Vascular Signals
Using Smartphone Accelerometers To Sense Gait Impairments Due To Alcohol Intoxication Read More
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
Sharing Clinical Trial Data: Challenges And A Way Forward
National Inpatient Hospital Costs: The Most Expensive Conditions By Payer, 2017
Racial And Ethnic Disparities Among COVID-19 Cases In Workplace Outbreaks Read More
RACIAL DISPARITIES AND NOMENCLATURE IN NEUROSCIENCE
Early life adversity, exposure to toxins throughout life, and racial discrimination are factors contributing to psychiatric disorders, while differences in how nomenclature is used by clinicians and family caregivers may compromise the quality of treatment for Alzheimer’s patients. Read More
AUTOPSIES, HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND INFORMED CONSENT
Differences in autopsy rates between blacks and whites may reflect health disparities while the incorporation of genetic testing in the performance of autopsies raises important questions pertaining to informed consent by relatives of decedents. Read More