Is now the time for Obama to expand Medicare without a bill?

[Little Star]

They can do that right? Just a question and would like to hear this discussed. Is it even a good idea? Maybe this is not a good time?

[Ozymanithrax]

1. No, the President can not expand Medicare without a bill.

The President can not create legislation. Only Congress can do that.
The President can not seek out funds. Only the Congress can do that.
The powers of the Congress and Senate are stated in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. (Section 8 specifically covers the powers.)
The powers of the Executive Branch are covered in Article II.

[Edweird]

3. Funny how that didn't stop FDR or LBJ or even *. Suddenly NOW the president is powerless.

How convenient.

[sharesunited]

4. They did it the old fashioned Constitutional way. By charming, bribing, and bullying.

[Grand Taurean]

15. LBJ and FDR had the connections and balls that

Obama does not have.

Though the "charming, bribing, and bullying" go us social security, banking regulation, and civil rights.

[Edweird]

16. I'm also pretty sure they didn't work against their own promises with the senate.

[Ozymanithrax]

5. FDR and LBJ had the congress create laws that created...

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Equal Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, and many other progressive pieces of legislation. Those are laws created by Congress and passed by Congress before they could be signed by FDR or LBJ.

Really, read Article I and II of the Constitution. It will all be cleared up. The President can not create legislation or expand legislation. Only Congress can do that.

[quiller4]

8. FDR & LBJ got their bills through Congress. The process wasn't pretty

and involved plenty of blackmail and bribery but that was before CSPAN and TV news. The backroom deals stayed quiet for decades and the policies passed

[ncteechur]

11. LBJ had a huge majority in both houses at that time. And they still tried to filibuster.

[tritsofme]

13. Local community colleges

usually offer great civics courses for adults.

[Edweird]

17. Chiropractors may be able to help

someone with cranio-rectal disorder.

[stray cat]

2. After he orchestrates a military coup and appoints himself dictator for life?

[TCJ70]

6. He can't do that...

...but he can put pressure on our "representatives" (if you want to call them that) to do it. There are several ways to accomplish that which have been outlined several times by people more articulate than myself.

Of course, that won't happen unless a general unease has been generated by recent events in MA. Hopefully, democrats no longer have a false arrogance and sense of job security that has led to our current situation.

[Junkdrawer]

7. No. He began the destruction of SS and Medicare today...without a bill...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7525149

[Ozymanithrax]

9. If you read the article, Congess must pass a law to do that.

He supports it, but it still must go through the legislative process or nothing happens.

[Junkdrawer]

10. Oh, I read the article. But he's creating the commission by Executive Order...

and we all just LOVE how it's findings will be presented AFTER the election and likely voted on by a lame duck Congress.

...

The commission would deliver its recommendations after this fall's congressional elections, postponing potentially painful decisions about the nation's fiscal future until after Democrats face the voters.

...


I mean, it's not like it's an important issue that requires discussion by the electorate.

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. Why would he support this? And I don't trust him or Congress on this.

Why should any of us?

[Little Star]

14. Could we do it through the reconsiliation process?

Where things stand right now the american people hate this HCR bill. So whats to lose?