"Faithfully Execute"

For John, BLUF:  Not the death penalty, but the laws of the land.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Over at the InstaPundit Ms Elizabeth Price Foley talks about Federal District Judge Rosemary Collyer's opinion in a House of Representatives lawsuit against the Executive Branch, in which the House argues that the Executive Branch is failing to "'faithfully execute' the laws and his related obligation not to spend money that Congress has not appropriated."  This is not a final decision, but it is a ruling that the suit may go forward.

This is tied into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare if you please), but it is a much bigger issue.  We know from the case of Ms Kim Davis, bless her little heart, down in Kentucky, that County Clerks have to execute the laws faithfully.  I am hearing few argument to the contrary from my Progressive Friends.♠  The question is, must the President, and his Administration, do likewise?

If the President can add and subtract from the laws passed by Congress, then we don't have the Government Abigail Adams thought her husband was securing for her.  There are then ramifications much larger that the PP&ACA.

The system works because (1) we feel the laws apply no matter whose ox is gored and (2) the other side gets a fair shot at being in charge for the next two years (or four years for President).

Read the whole thing.  It won't take too long.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  There is also the obscure case of an official down at the Commonwealth Education Office, Mr J Sullivan, telling Dracut officials that he does not recognize a certain section of the law passed by The General Court.  How special for Mr Sullivan.