I agree with your editorial “Rule by edict isn’t what the founders had in mind.”

When President Obama’s party lost control of Congress, he said “I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone” and governed largely by executive orders for the remainder of his tenure. One of those orders created the DACA program.

President Trump signed his share of executive orders, some attempting to reverse Obama’s orders, with limited success.

Then President Biden was elected, and signed a stack of executive orders during his first week, despite his party controlling both the House and the Senate, and continued with the executive orders to the end, even during his “lame duck” status.

Precedent being set, President Trump began his second term by signing a ridiculous number of executive orders, also with his party in control of the House and the Senate.

And as a retired police sergeant, I was disappointed that Trump pardoned the January 6th defendants that assaulted Capitol police officers.

Meanwhile, the pandemic gave Gavin Newsom a reason to declare a state of emergency, and he has governed by executive orders ever since.  Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has governed by executive orders from day one regarding homelessness, and now is doing the same regarding the wildfire tragedy.  Perhaps she could issue one more: keep the reservoirs that feed the fire hydrants full.

John Knapp, San Clemente

Related Articles