Simple "Weekend Economists" October 18-20, 2013

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35. Obama Will Have To Rely More And More On Executive Orders

http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-will-have-to-rely-more-and-more-on-executive-orders-2013-10

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite his win last week in a debt ceiling standoff with Republicans, President Barack Obama has limited ability to achieve his policy goals through legislation, which could result in increased use of executive powers, administration officials and Democratic strategists said.

The 16-day partial government shutdown highlighted Obama's challenges in basic governing. Although he refused to concede to Republicans in exchange for reopening the government and raising the U.S. borrowing limit, he could not block the emergence of what he called a "manufactured" crisis.

The president would now like to seize momentum to push forward three legislative priorities: the farm bill, immigration reform and a more lasting budget deal.

But his chances of progress on those issues, particularly immigration reform, depend on convincing embittered Republicans to work with a White House many of them detest. That leaves Obama more or less at the same strategic juncture he encountered before the shutdown began.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-will-have-to-rely-more-and-more-on-executive-orders-2013-10#ixzz2iGSYICfP