ZOMG, Congressional Republicans Look To Reign In Trump On Tariffs

Orange Man Bad!

Republicans weigh using the power of Congress to rein in Trump on tariffs

The fallout from President Donald Trump’s aggressive new tariffs has spurred Congress into action, with a growing number of Republicans joining Democrats to express interest in using their power to restrain him.

After the GOP-led Senate delivered a rare rebuke to Trump on Wednesday by voting to undo his tariffs on Canada, lawmakers in both chambers are weighing additional steps to rein him in. Senators are eyeing other mechanisms to rescind Trump’s existing tariffs while limiting his ability to impose new ones. And Democrats in the House are exploring ways to force a vote to revoke Canadian tariffs, putting out feelers to attract support from Republicans.

It was literally “Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine; Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky; and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — joined all 47 Democrats in supporting it.” Paul was the surprise, the other three were not. Not a really a rebuke.

The resolution, authored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is not expected to go anywhere in the House. Still, it represented a significant break in the party from Trump the day he announced a new set of sweeping tariffs, which the White House billed as “Liberation Day,” and after the president publicly pressured the four GOP senators on the issue.

“If these tariffs go into effect, it will be so harmful,” Collins said in a speech on the Senate floor ahead of the vote. “And as price hikes always do, they will hurt those the most who can afford them the least.”

Collins ticked through industry workers in Maine who would be particularly affected by a trade war, such as lobstermen, blueberry growers and potato farmers.

Should they not be supporting American workers first, and telling countries like Canada to remove their tariffs on imported American goods? Who are Democrats rooting for? Americans or foreigners? America or other nations?

I still maintain most of the tariffs could have waited while they negotiated with some countries, like Canada, Mexico, European, and some others. And it is an interesting notion to consider whether the president should have the authority to impose tariffs or this should be in the hands of Congress.

(NBC News) Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a Trump ally who is third in line to the presidency, introduced a bill with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on Thursday that would reassert Congress’ authority and slap restrictions on the president’s power to levy tariffs.

The legislation, called the Trade Review Act of 2025, would require the president to notify Congress of new tariffs within 48 hours of imposition, while providing his reasons and an analysis of the impacts on American consumers and businesses. Then Congress would have 60 days to approve it. If it does not, the tariffs would expire after that period.

“For too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch,” Grassley said in a statement. “Building on my previous efforts as Finance Committee Chairman, I’m joining Senator Cantwell to introduce the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 to reassert Congress’ constitutional role and ensure Congress has a voice in trade policy.”

But, unless Congress removes all tariff power from the Executive Branch they’ve still delegated authority.

And the question here is, if it passes, will Congress allow tariffs? You know most, if not all, of the Democrats will vote against trying to help American workers and businesses in favor of foreigners.

The post ZOMG, Congressional Republicans Look To Reign In Trump On Tariffs appeared first on Pirate’s Cove.