emergency (noun)- a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.

Declaring an emergency gives politicians power. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Progressive politicians shut down businesses, mandated injections of a largely untested vaccine, made it illegal to attend church, shut down schools, and stifled free speech in the name of what they declared a health emergency.

Trump utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs ostensibly declaring “trade imbalances” (among other things) a national emergency.

The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled that IEEPA does not authorize these tariffs, but the ruling was appealed and an administrative stay was issued, meaning the tariffs remain in effect during the appeals process.

Trade imbalances are not national emergencies. In many ways, they benefit American consumers and American businesses who can lower their costs by buying parts and other goods at more competitive prices.

The Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate foreign commerce, impose import tariffs, and raise revenue. It is time they do their job and roll back some of the authority they have transferred to the executive branch. In the meantime, let’s hope the courts understand the definition of emergency and rule with common sense before it is too late for American consumers and businesses.