Article One is the Answer to Obama

Our fundamental document, the U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section One, begins: "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." The rest of Article One sets forth the many powers that the framers allocated to what they thought would be the most powerful of our three branches of government.

Despite strong Re­publican majorities sent to both Houses by the voters in last year's election, the new Congress has compiled a record of surrender of its basic powers over foreign trade, war and peace, immigration and naturalization, regulation of the economy, confirmation of judges, and regulation of federal courts.

In his first act as incoming Speaker, Paul Ryan signed off on a deal that had been secretly negotiated by outgoing Speaker John Boehner. A key provision of that deal was to surrender Con­gress authority to "borrow money on the credit of the United States" for the remainder of President Obama's term in office.

To confirm the budget deal, Ryan had to violate the unofficial Hastert rule, in which Republican leaders have repeatedly vowed not to advance legislation that most Republicans oppose. Two-thirds of Republicans in both Houses opposed the Boehner-Obama budget deal, yet the new leadership allowed it to become law with mostly Democratic votes.

Congress also surrendered its power to limit federal spending through the sequestration required by the last bipartisan budget deal. By giving up limits on borrowing and spending, Congress has effectively surrendered its power to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States."

The release of the secret text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) reminds us that Congress already surrendered its power to "regulate commerce with foreign nations." Congress will be limited to an up-or-down vote on that 6,000-page monstrosity at a time of Obama's choosing.

Obama's commitment to re­stricting our use of energy, so he can be a hero at the upcoming UN conference in Paris, knows no bounds. In addition to cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline project, his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) have issued a costly series of regulations that should be overturned by Congress.

Although Congress has the sole power to "declare War" and to "raise and support Armies," to President Obama has been conducting a no-win war in Syria without Congressional authorization.

The power to "make Rules concerning Cap­tures on Land and Wa­ter" justifies Congress' decision to hold terror suspects at Guantana­mo, yet Obama just let it be known that the remaining detainees will soon be transferred to Colorado.

Congress has the power to cre­ate a "uniform rule of naturaliza­tion," but that law is openly defied by President Obama and more than 300 sanctuary cities, coun­ties and states. It's long overdue for Congress to enforce its sole authority over immigration and nationality by withholding funds from defiant officials.