[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the United States Supreme 
Court ruled that the President had illegally exceeded the power granted 
to him under the Constitution. In his quest to regulate every aspect of 
American life and society, the President issued an executive order in 
1996 granting the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate 
tobacco marketing. However, Congress never gave the President, this 
administration nor his agency the authority to issue these regulations.
  Mr. Speaker, I am relieved that the United States Supreme Court has 
upheld the Constitution and the basic tenets of our democracy. But, Mr. 
Speaker, I am also worried, worried that what the Clinton 
administration will continue to do is usurp the powers granted to this 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure that the balance of power as 
envisioned by our Founding Fathers is maintained.
  I yield back the monocratic attempts of this current administration 
to govern by edict and executive order, rather than by democratic 
principles.

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