The Public Pulse: Don Bacon (NE-R) responds to Pulse letter about tariffs

[Omaha Steve]

https://omaha.com/opinion/letters/article_20531e7e-999d-4d29-9e68-be8316247a41.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Here's how I've acted in Congress on tariff authority

Mr. Steve Miller claimed in his letter on Aug. 10 that I have done nothing to reclaim Congressional authority over tariffs. This is simply false.

On April 10 of this year, I introduced H.R.2665 - Trade Review Act of 2025, which does just that. This legislation is the companion bill to Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maria Cantwell's (D-WA) legislation, The Trade Review Act of 2025, which mirrors Grassley's 2019 Section 232 tariff reform efforts as Senate Finance Committee Chairman during the first Trump administration.

While it will take significant efforts to reclaim these long-delegated powers, this represents a necessary first step in restoring Congress's constitutional role in trade policy. This effort is about upholding the Constitution. Congress has the power of the purse. Our Founders created checks and balances for a reason.

Don Bacon, Papillion, Member of Congress

[Walleye]

1. How many times I've heard Republicans in Congress say that they hold the "purse strings".

It’s a lie. They don’t hold anything. They push everything over to the White House so they don’t have to make any decisions that will piss off 💩. Republicans don’t have the courage or the strength to reclaim the purse strings

[DenaliDemocrat]

2. Damn.

I’m looking for Don Bacon to be a voice of reason. I wish I knew how much of this was genuine and how much was just grandstanding for the public, knowing full well the party line shall be towed.

[sop]

3. Congress has the power of the purse, but Trump has the power over Congress.