1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am sure by now you are familiar with the president’s newest executive order that consolidates power behind the executive branch. Specifically, it says that all “executive departments and agencies, including so-called independent agencies, shall submit for review all proposed and final significant regulatory actions to the office of information and regulatory affairs before publication.” Furthermore, in section 7, it blatantly says that the Interpretation of the Law rests solely within the overseeing attorney general and the president himself. This is blatant overreach of power. It usurps literally everything our constitution and government stands for - 3 co-equal branches of government that checks and balances power so that no one branch has absolute authority on anything. Those independent agencies are to ensure unbiased function of our government. Of course, you know this order is unconstitutional and unenforceable. But the public perception of this order is that he fundamentally declared himself a king, beyond reproach. We fought for our independence as a country and nation to escape such individuals and declarations. We function under democracy, not a monarchy. Not an authoritarian. Not a dictator. I trust that you are as alarmed over this implication as I am and are diligently working on some form of legislative regulation to check this blatant power grab with what little power you seemingly have left. You represent the people. The majority of the American public do not want this sort of governance. Please put the president in check and do your job to convey those feelings. If we are in fear of falling over the cliff into an oligarchy and dictatorship, I will tell you I think we are literally dangling from that cliff by our fingertips. Stand up. Get loud. Stop this.