Obama’s Old Constitution Prof Slams EPA
Laurence Tribe, a liberal constitutional scholar at Harvard University and Barack Obama’s former professor, told Congress Tuesday that Obama’s EPA is out of control. Specifically, EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” to regulate carbon dioxide emissions go too far. “EPA possesses only the authority granted to it by Congress,” Tribe said. “Its gambit here raises serious questions under the separation of powers … because EPA is attempting to exercise lawmaking power that belongs to Congress and judicial power that belongs to the federal courts.” He continued, “EPA is attempting an unconstitutional trifecta: usurping the prerogatives of the states, Congress and the federal courts all at once.” Furthermore, he added, “Burning the Constitution should not become part of our national energy policy.” To be fair, Tribe is on retainer for Peabody Energy, a coal company. But he’s right and couldn’t have been more clear that his former student is completely overstepping executive bounds. More…