On Dec. 17, Congress disappointed many Americans. A resolution to block the Trump administration from hostilities against the country of Venezuela, without congressional
authorization, failed by two votes.

This was a modest resolution, simply requiring that Congress be included in a deliberative process when there is the possibility of stumbling into a war. The Constitution is clear that Congress alone has the responsibility to commit the nation to war. By virtue of its voting, Congress is removing itself from its constitutional role.

During the run up to the presidential election, an 887-page blueprint for political change,
popularly known as Project 2025, was set forth by the Heritage Foundation. One of the
foundation’s goals was to give more power to the executive branch. Subsequently, the
administration and its congressional supporters embraced this goal, and they appear to be
including presidential privileges in the use of military force.

Ironically, few in Congress seem to have closely read the Project 2025 document. Quoting from it: “… we must rediscover and adhere to the Founders’ wise division of war powers, whereby Congress, the most representative and deliberative branch, decides whether to go to war; and the executive, the most energetic and decisive branch, decides how to carry it out once begun. As the past 75 years have repeatedly demonstrated in different ways—from Korea, to Vietnam, to Iraq, to Afghanistan—we depart from our constitutional design at our peril” (Page 88).

I suspect that most Mainers want Congress to follow this advice.

Thomas Boucher
Scarborough