The House is actively investigating the facts behind the January 6 insurrection incited by former President Donald Trump through its bipartisan committee. This week, House Democrats have introduced legislation that would put a limit to presidential powers, addressing the issues faced during the Trump presidency.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have introduced legislation Tuesday that would seek to put limits on presidential powers. As reported by the Washington Examiner, the new bill, with Rep. Adam Schiff as its lead sponsor, called Protecting Democracy Act, would also aim to address the issues and complaints that have been evident through Trump’s single term. The bill would appear to be a sign that presidential powers have expanded throughout the last several decades, and Trump’s presidency is known to have broken norms.
The bill would introduce sweeping reforms such as adjustments in requirements and restrictions regarding the compliance with congressional subpoenas and pardons as well as the independence of the inspectors general, and the transitions between presidential administrations among other provisions. Nearly all of the provisions in the bill could be linked to a scandal or frustration during the Trump administration.
“Donald Trump made this legislation a necessity but this is bigger than about any one particular president,” said Schiff, regarding the bill. “The former president trampled many of our sacred norms and institutions, violating laws, and breaking long-standing precedent with shocking ease.”
“There’s been a slow movement, but it picked up steam,” said Pelosi. “Our founders in their wisdom to have checks and balances and separation of power, and they had guardrails for the president. And one of them was the Congress of the United States.”
The bill would also target a DOJ policy that the president and vice president cannot be criminally charged while in office. This policy made impeachment the only solution towards Trump following accusations that the twice-impeached former president at the time was obstructing the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.
Meanwhile, Axios reports that Pelosi has now begun to pressure centrist House Democrats to back the $3.5 trillion budget resolution that would make investments in social programs, another big part of President Joe Biden’s agenda. At the same time, Pelosi is also looking to get progressive Democrats to back the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that was already passed in the Senate.
This also comes as both factions of the Democratic party have issued ultimatums that they will not support one without voting on the other.