Congress has sole constitutional authority to direct spending should they choose to use it. The law, however, would have to be specifically written to prohibit the president from spending any government funds on his immigration amnesty. Congress traditionally gives the executive branch fairly broad discretion on a range of issues. That’s why the EPA is now regulating CO2 as a pollutant for example.
That said, the president retains veto authority over anything passed by Congress, including changes to existing law. If the Republicans are not willing to confront the president on spending—shutting down the government if necessary—then they surrender their trump card, and if Republicans think the president will give up or cooperate, they are sadly mistaken. Holding up the president’s appointments, while important, isn’t going to stop him.
I don’t think moderates like McCain still understand the president is not going to negotiate or cooperate in good faith. We’ve had six years of hope and change, and I think the president sees this as his last chance to wreak havoc on the country. Just like Obamacare, implement as much as possible, and then dare Republicans to try and roll it back. History is on Obama’s side in that regard, because we have no evidence that moderate Republicans have the will to undo it. They like much of what Obama does!
Already on the books.
This little gem from Reagan's 1986 immigration bill:
This posted 11/22/14....Hat Tip to xzins
Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 "NOTICE TO CONGRESS BEFORE IMPLEMENTING CHANGES" (Required)
Government Printing Office ^ | 1986 | US Congress Posted on 11/22/2014, 4:03:19 PM by xzins
Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 "NOTICE TO CONGRESS BEFORE IMPLEMENTING CHANGES" (Required) Government Printing Office ^ | 1986 | US Congress
Posted on 11/22/2014, 4:03:19 PM by xzins
"(3) NOTICE TO CONGRESS BEFORE IMPLEMENTING CHANGES.—
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The President may not implement any change under paragraph (1) unless at least—
"(i) 60 days,
"(ii) one year, in the case of a major change described in subparagraph (D)(iii), or
"(iii) two years, in the case of a major change described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (D), before the date of implementation of the change, the President has prepared and transmitted to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a written report setting forth the proposed change.
If the President proposes to make any change regarding social security account number cards, the President shall transmit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the Senate a written report setting forth the proposed change.
The President promptly shall cause to have printed in the Federal Register the substance of any major change (described in subparagraph (D)) proposed and reported to Congress.
"(B) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—In any report under subparagraph (A) the President shall include recommendations for the establishment of civil and criminal sanctions for unauthorized use or disclosure of the information or identifiers contained in such system.
"(C) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF MAJOR CHANGES.—
"(i) HEARINGS AND REVIEW.—The Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate shall cause to have printed in the Congressional Record the substance of any major change described in subparagraph (D), shall hold hearings respecting the feasibility and desirability of implementing such a change, and, within the two year period before implementation, shall report to their respective Houses findings on whether or not such a change should be implemented.
"(ii) CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.—No major change may be implemented unless the Congress specifically provides, in an appropriations or other Act, for funds for implementation of the change.
"(D) MAJOR CHANGES REQUIRING TWO YEARS NOTICE AND CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.—As used in this paragraph, the term 'major change' means a change which would—
"(i) require an individual to present a new card or other document (designed specifically for use for this purpose) at the time of hiring, recruitment, or referral,
"(ii) provide for a telephone verification system under which an employer, recruiter, or referrer must transmit to a Federal official information concerning the immigration status of prospective employees and the official transmits to the person, and the person must record, a verification code, or
"(iii) require any change in any card used for accounting purposes under the Social Security Act, 42 USC 301 note. including any change requiring that the only social security account number cards which may be presented in order to comply with subsection (bXlXCXi) are such cards as are in a counterfeit-resistant form consistent with the second sentence of section 205(cX2XD) of the Social ecurity Act. 42 use 405
. Discussion here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3230042/posts?page=83
The talk about shutting down the government is a canard. Congress, using regular order, can pass separate appropriation bills, funding parts of the government and shutting down only selective parts. One thing that they could do is drastically cut down spending at the White House.