A House Republican's interpretation of the constitutional role of Congress has left some stunned, after he suggested it is not a co-equal branch of government, but rather, intended to be supportive of "President Trump," and "implement" his agenda.
The U.S. Constitution is clear: Congress's role is to make laws, the executive branch's role is to implement and enforce them.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA) appeared to get the roles reversed.
"The president was elected by the people. What was on the ballot was the America First agenda," Congressman Meuser told Fox Business Friday (video below). "The president's plan is what we should be backing."
"You know, our role is really to be more of a of a supportive board of directors, so we can implement what the American people voted for," he claimed, conflating two co-equal branches of government. "Republicans need to get on board with President Trump. He is the commander in chief. He is the president. He is the decider in chief, and he's the CEO."
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Meuser also claimed that the original bill Speaker of the House Mike Johnson put forth on Tuesday should have had the provision to extend or eliminate the debt ceiling that President-elect Donald Trump had wanted. Trump notified Congress via a post on his Truth Social platform Wednesday after 5 PM — well after the text of the first bill has been released on Tuesday —that he wanted the debt ceiling language in the bill.
"I mean, this, on the entire problem began because we received almost 1500 pages on Tuesday evening, and there was a lot that was in it that was unexpected, and there were things that were not in it that were expected, apparently, particularly uh, the president's request for for a debt ceiling. Uh, uh, now we uh we we we're here at the eleventh hour."
Meuser also insisted Congress needs to pass a bill "with any revisions that the White House can live with — that President Trump can live with, because again, this is his plan that should be implemented."
Critics expressed concern over Congressman Meuser's claims.
"What Constitution is he reading? Because it’s definitely not the American one," remarked former Obama White House advisor and Deputy Communications Director TJ Adams-Falconer.
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"Ah yes, who could forget Article 1 Section 1 of the Constitution, establishing a 'supportive board of directors,'" snarked Tim Mulvey, who has an extensive resume in government, including serving as communications director for the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, and communications director for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"Someone should tell @RepMeuser he’s the member of a co-equal branch of government," commented MSNBC columnist Michael A. Cohen.
Watch the video below or at this link.
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