By Hank Berrien
https://www.dailywire.com/news/27967/107-house-republicans-sent-letter-pleading-trump-hank-berrienOn Wednesday, 107 House Republicans sent a letter to President Trump asking him to abandon his purported desire to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel imports. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) headed the list of GOP members pleading with Trump to rethink his position, while allowing that action must be taken against China’s unfair trading practices.
The letter started:
We are writing to express deep concern about the prospect of broad, global tariffs on aluminum and steel imports. Because
tariffs are taxes that make U.S. businesses less competitive and U.S. consumers poorer, any tariffs that are imposed should
be designed to address specific distortions caused by unfair trade practices in a targeted way while minimizing negative
consequences on American businesses and consumers.
. . . The letter concluded:
We support your resolve to address distortions caused by China’s unfair practices, and we are committed to acting with you
and our trading partners on meaningful and effective action. But we urge you to reconsider the idea of broad tariffs to avoid
unintended negative consequences to the U.S. economy and its workers. We are eager to work with you in pursuing a workable,
targeted approach that achieves our shared goal.
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The Constitution gives Congress the power to levy tariffs. The president only has any power to impose tariffs because Congress
wrote laws giving him that power, and they can write new laws to constrain the power . . . If Republicans want to stop Trump from
doing this tariff nonsense, persuasion isn't going to work. They'll need to pass a law.
But the reasons they're reluctant to do that are obvious.
Most Republicans in Congress are on the record as free-traders. But how many are willing to stand up to Trump on the issue, and
then go home to face a local Republican electorate that is split on the issue?
Plus, while many Democrats will be eager to vote for legislation that annoys Trump and reduces his power, some — particularly,
those from steel-producing areas — will stand with Trump because they agree on the underlying policy.
So, it's likely they would fail to get the two-thirds majority they would need to pass a law that restricts Trump's tariff power.
And even if they managed to override Trump's veto, who knows what the fight would do to Republican voter morale, or how Trump
would seek to retaliate against Republicans who overrode him — hardly an ideal situation when heading into an election where
Republicans are already worried about motivating their base.
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Josh Barro, Business Insider.
