Gov Project

Brad Weiss
Mrs. Euziere
American Government Honors
25 August 2013

National Government Event
As President Barack Obama considers military action in response to Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, a debate over whether he must seek Congress' consent has surfaced. It's a debate with which the president is extremely familiar.
As a senator, Obama was a staunch critic of President George W. Bush for not obtaining renewed authorization for the war in Iraq. He blasted his predecessor in 2007, saying, "The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."
Additionally, as a candidate for president, Obama reaffirmed that sentiment. He told the Boston Globe in a questionnaire, "The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."
"It is always preferable to have the informed consent of Congress prior to any military action," Obama added at the time.
As a senator, Vice President Joe Biden had a similar take. During a campaign speech in Iowa in 2007, he said "the consequences of war -- intended or otherwise -- can be so profound and complicated that our founding fathers vested in Congress, not the president, the power to initiate war, except to repel an imminent attack on the United States or its citizens."
Although they have held such strong views in the past, their positions have dramatically changed. They did not seek Congressional consent when the United States engaged its military in Libya, nor when Obama expanded the war in Afghanistan. In both instances, members of Congress complained loudly, but the president defended his decision.
In the case of Libya, the president said at the time that U.S. troops would not be on the ground and so the law didn't apply.
Why the change of heart?
"Where you stand on this issue depends on where you sit, and right now (Obama) is sitting in the Oval Office," said Kal Raustiala, professor of law at UCLA.
It's a long-running battle of checks and balances. And it's one that the president usually wins.
The debate revolves around the War Powers Resolution.
Congress passed the measure in 1973, overriding a veto by President Richard Nixon. It was meant to rein in the president's ability to involve the United States in overseas conflict.
The law requires that the president seek consent from Congress before force is used or within 60 days of the start of hostilities and that the president provides Congress with reports throughout the conflict.
It hasn't really worked that way.

It's a debate that has played out time and time again in U.S. history: a president is considering intervening in an international conflict, Congress wants a say. Specifically, congressional opponents want the ability to block the intended military action.
Since 1973, the United States has used military force in Grenada in 1983, Panama in 1989, Iraq in 1991, Haiti in 1994 and Kosovo in 1999. In all those instances, presidents -- both Democrats and Republicans -- sidestepped Congress and committed U.S. military forces without obtaining Congressional approval.
Congress did, however, provide Bush with its approval for the war in Iraq in 2002 and the war in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Like a replay of the past, some members of Congress are demanding the president seek the legislative branch's approval before any action is taken in Syria. But it's highly unlikely the president will take that formal step.
Congress complains, sometimes loudly, but has rarely done anything about it. It could pass laws further restricting the president's authority, but hasn't done so. The legislative branch could also withhold funding of any military conflict, but that's another avenue it has failed to take. Additionally, the judiciary has been reluctant to settle the dispute.
In the White House's daily briefing, press secretary Jay Carney said the administration is consulting with Congress. Obama "had discussions with relevant members of Congress, and leaders of committees and leaders of the Congress at large," he said.
In response to Carney's statement, Rep. Justin Amash, R-Michigan, who called military action without congressional approval "unconstitutional" and is among a group of lawmakers who are demanding the president seek their approval, tweeted, "yeah right."
But while members are likely to write letters, pontificate and even challenge the president to seek consent, the president is likely to continue to sit on the winning side of the issue.

Obama wants to into war with Syria because they are killing their own people with chemicals. But Syria said if we go and invade them, they will take their chemicals and invade our country full force. I really don’t want to go to war with Syria because I don’t want to be in danger of them coming over here and killing us. I really don’t want to die any time soon.

State Government Event
Florida’s housing market continued its upward trend in July, as sales and prices for homes and condos rose in the year-over-year comparison and the state steadily recovers from the previous decade’s housing bust.
According to a report released Wednesday by Florida Realtors, sales of existing single-family homes rose 20.9 percent from July 2012 to 21,238 total sales, and the median sale price jumped 18.7 percent to $177,500. Condo sales increased 16.8 percent to 9,430 total sales, and the median sale price rose 21.9 percent to $128,000.
The total number of cash sales -- an indicator of investor activity in the marketplace -- increased for both condos and homes, but their share of total sales declined. Cash sales made up 70 percent of total condo sales, pointing to high investor activity but still down 2.9 percent from July 2012. The share of home sales transacted in cash was 42.5 percent, a drop of 0.3 percent from last year.
Florida Realtors heralded the numbers, saying they reveal the improving housing market and with it, the recovering economy.
“July marks the 19th consecutive month that we’ve seen the statewide single-family home median sales price increase year-over-year. Florida’s housing market is growing and that’s good news for our economy,” Florida Realtors president Dean Asher said.
There was one note of caution, however, as the reduction in the inventory of homes on the market may be easing.
“Specifically, new listings have been up, year over year, for all of 2013. This suggests that sellers are more eager to place their homes on the market. In addition, the months’ supply of inventory numbers have remained fairly static for the past three months, suggesting we may be reaching the bottom of the inventory decline,” Florida Realtors chief economist John Tuccillo said.
The Florida housing market is finally starting to go up again. This is amazing news for retailers and people who want to see their homes, but if people don’t want to sell their house, it really doesn’t affect them. It really doesn’t affect me because I don’t own a house nor will I be owning one in the near future, so it really doesn’t affect me.
Fun Event
Jay Leno brought in General Motors VP of global design Ed Welburn to his garage this week to talk about the Cadillac Elmiraj concept that was revealed in Pebble Beach. Leno and Welburn talk about their respective CTS-Vs before getting into the beast that is the Elmiraj.
Welburn says that the car is still a concept but “it gives us an opportunity to really look at something different for the brand.”
Leno remarks that the concepts of his day were fantasy projects like the bubble-top and turbine car. Elmiraj, obviously, is a little closer to production, taking cues from the new CTS.
The taillights are inspired by the Caddies of the '50s and '60s, while the proportions are classic for a big, rear-wheel-drive coupe. Welburn says there's a twin-turbocharged V8 underhood, but the wheels would probably shrink for a production version.
The two go through the interior of the mega coupe before checking out more of the sheetmetal. Unfortunately, considering this is a concept, they don't get in and tear up the PCH.
The brand new Cadillac elmiraj concept was in Jay Leno’s garage the other day. This is what Cadillac is working on right now, it’s not even available to the public! I think the elmiraj is the best caddy they have made! It looks awesome and it’s so fast, it’s ridiculous. Jay Leno is a very lucky man!