Showing posts with label appointments reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label appointments reform. Show all posts

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Beers for Congress: Reclaiming Congressional Power & Curbing Executive Overreach

 

Campaign Platform for Robert Beers (SC‑1)

As your candidate for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, Robert Beers is leading a bold campaign to restore constitutional balance—empowering Congress, restraining executive authority, and safeguarding our democracy:


1. Emergency Powers Reform

  • Sunset Clause: Amend the National Emergencies Act to require President-declared emergencies to expire after 30 days unless Congress votes to extend them.

  • IEEPA Limits: Repurpose the proposed Article One Act to ensure any national-security tariff or designation via IEEPA needs explicit congressional approval.


2. Reclaiming Tariff Authority

  • Trade Review Act (2025): Require all proposed tariffs to be approved or rejected by Congress within 60 days.

  • Repeal Sections 232 & 301: End open-ended trade authority from outdated statutes.

  • WTO Compliance: Enforce mandatory congressional review before leaving trade agreements.


3. Reinforcing War Powers

  • Strengthen WPR: Automatic military funding cutoff after 60 days without congressional authorization.

  • No More Permanent Wars Act: End continuous war authorizations like the 2001 AUMF.

  • 48‑Hour Notification: Require immediate notification and congressional approval for cyber/covert ops over 30 days.


4. Executive Order Oversight

  • REINS Act Expansion: Any executive order costing over $100 million must be ratified by Congress within 60 days or it expires.

  • CRA Modernization: Ensure swift congressional overturn of midnight regulations.


5. Budget Control & Spending Power

  • Revive Impoundment Control Act: Prevent presidential freezes of congressionally approved spending.

  • Ban Creative Spending Cuts: Close loopholes like “programmatic delays” masquerading as lawful abstentions.

  • Debt Ceiling Leverage: Tie increases to permanent reforms in emergency and war powers.


6. Oversight Enhancements

  • Fast‑Track Contempt: Allow Congress to sue non-responding officials in D.C. courts.

  • GAO Suits: Empower the Government Accountability Office to challenge executive violations (e.g., foreign gifts).

  • IG Protections: Shield Inspectors General from political removal.


7. Appointments & Vacancies Reform

  • Enforce Vacancies Act: Restrict acting roles beyond 120 days without Senate confirmation.

  • End De Facto Leadership Avoidance: Close loopholes that bypass Senate approval.


8. Congressional Self-Assertion

  • Freeze Non-Essential Legislation: Halt unrelated bills until reforms on emergencies, tariffs, war, and budget are passed.

  • Opportunity for National Debate: Host televised congressional debates on these reforms.

  • Commission Creation: Establish a bipartisan panel to recommend further reassertions of congressional authority.


🧭 Why Vote Beers?

Robert Beers brings principled leadership to SC’s coastal communities. He believes:

  • Congress should legislate budgets, tariffs, wars—not the President.

  • Executive order power must be checked to protect liberty and ensure accountability.

  • We must halt unchecked permanent war authorizations and reassert representative democracy.

It’s not partisanship—it’s constitutional fidelity.


📣 Make Your Voice Heard

➡️ Vote Robert Beers for Congress—if you believe our democracy is built on balance, checks, and the rule of law.
➡️ Support reforms that restore congressional power and prevent executive overreach in Charleston and beyond.


Sources: Brennan Center (emergency powers), Cato Institute (tariff reform), War Powers Resolution, Article One Act proposals, GAO authority expansions, Vacancies Act guidance apnews.com+12protectdemocracy.org+12govinfo.gov+12congress.gov.