Just in case you wondering, an executive order from the president does not trump statutory law established by Congress. Of course, most people with even a rudimentary level of civic literacy knows that, but it seemed to confuse some of our elected officials on Sunday when a deal was brokered for the president to issue an executive order to prohibit the funding of abortions with tax payer dollars in exchange for several votes for the health care bill.
It isn't rocket science, or even brain surgery. It is the simple separation of powers provided for in our Constitution. If an executive order could override statutes, there would be no need for Congress, the president would be able to establish, at will, any policy he wanted. In fact, if an executive order would trump statute, I'm pretty sure as important as the issue is to this president, he would have already instituted a national takeover of health care by executive order. But, he didn't, because he couldn't. And, he couldn't for the same reason that the executive order being signed today to prohibit the spending of tax dollars for abortion is not worth the paper on which it is written.
Throughout the debates on the health care bill, I have listened to the congressman leading the group of holdouts on the principled stand of the sanctity of life and the belief that tax dollars should not fund abortion. He and his small band of followers held out until just hours before the vote. As his press conference was announced, I prayed it would be to announce that since there was no suitable compromise, he would be voting no. But, that wasn't his announcement. He announced, instead, the sham of the executive order, and acted as if he actually believed what he was saying. Nothing in this process is quite as disappointing as watching a man of principle capitulate on those principles.
It is not yet out in the open how much his district will benefit in the coming days - grants for airports and money for a hospital have been mentioned. But, the fact remains that once a legislator has agreed to exchange his vote and principles for something else, he has established his profession, and all that remains is negotiation on price. I just cannot fathom what might be worth trading your reputation and the lives of the unborn for.
Do not misunderstand me. I do not think it was easy for Rep. Stupak to hold out as long as he did. He was under extreme pressure by his friends to switch his vote. And, I do not necessarily believe it was easy for him to surrender. But, the point is, he did. And that only added to the perception that the men and women who lead us are lacking in moral virtue.
Join me in praying for moral strength for our elected leaders. It is not always easy to do the right thing.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. Proverbs 25:26
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