Constitutional Revolution: Cabinet Official Allowed to Usurp Role of Congress in Authorizing Spending

Inside the Fantasy World of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Staff

The Dismal Political Economist has known for some time that those who write editorials for the Wall Street Journal must live in a separate, parallel universe from the one the rest of us inhabit.  In that world everything that is bad, and we do mean everything, is the result of Democrats.  Republicans have no responsibility.

In the latest glimpse into that world we see that their U. S. Constitution is radically different from ours.  For example, in our U. S. Constitution, Federal spending is authorized and appropriated by the Congress.  No other branch of government can spend without Congressional approval. 

In the world of the WSJ Editorial staff, a single unelected cabinet officer can dictate spending.  In an editorial they write that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is responsible for shutting down the FAA by denying them spending authority

Ray LaHood shuts down the FAA to preserve a Big Labor advantage

Now what has happened is that the Congress has refused to authorize spending by the FAA because Republicans want changes in airport subsidies and labor organizing rules, and Democrats do not.  The Dismal Political Economist has explained this issue before and without commenting on the merits of the issues noted that the Republican response when Democratic Senators asked for meeting to negotiate a settlement was

House Transportation Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) responded that the Senate should instead adopt a House plan.

(Remember that statement, you will hear a lot of it in the coming days and weeks.)

Now surely there can only one person who can take the leap in logic from that statement above by the House Republican Chairman of the relevant committee to a statement that the problem lies with the Secretary of Transportation.  And in an incredible, odds defying coincidence, this person is one who writes editorials for the Wall Street Journal?  Astounding!