Posted on 01/13/2012 1:01:22 PM PST by nickcarraway
On Friday, President Obama asked Congress for greater power to do something.
Before you talk about hell freezing over, consider that his request adheres to Republicans' "smaller government" talking point. Seeking to streamline the government, save money and eliminate duplicative services, the president wants to merge six federal departments and agencies into one. But instead of restructuring items usually on the GOP hit list, like education, Medicare and social safety net programs, he wants to consolidate agencies that handle trade and commerce.
The organizations in question are the Commerce Department, the Small Business Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency.
Obama's proposal is the first in a series of mergers he wants to enact. "There are five different entities dealing with housing; more than a dozen agencies involved in food safety," he said in remarks from the White House describing bureaucracy across the federal government. "My favorite example, which I mentioned in last year's State of the Union Address, as it turns out, the Interior Department is in charge of salmon in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in saltwater."
U.S. presidents used to wield power to reorganize the executive branch of government -- for 52 years -- until Congress stopped authorizing it under President Reagan in 1984. If Congress heeds Obama's request to reinstate it, he would be allowed to present lawmakers with his specific proposals, followed by up-or-down votes within 90 days.
(Excerpt) Read more at theroot.com ...
Do not be fooled.
This is nothing more than a ploy to elevate the Small Business Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency to cabinet-level status.
Just close them all down along with education, energy, interior, agriculture, housing, welfare, labor, etc, etc, etc.
I don’t believe this SOS.
Ditto!
Same amount of people. Nobody will be let go.
Magician’s trick. Watch the other hand.
It would consolidate more quick political power for the clans of constituents described in the following and more enforcement against other families trying to do business. It would keep manufacturing foreign and put agriculture more in the hands of the few.
The Fragmenting of the New Class Elites, or, Downward Mobility
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2832259/posts
U.S. presidents used to wield power to reorganize the executive branch of government — for 52 years — until Congress stopped authorizing it under President Reagan in 1984.
And the control of Congress at that time was in the
hands of.....?
Wouldn't need an act of congress to do it either.
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