Lankford Says President Obama's Executive Appointments are without Constitutional Precedent

Press Release

Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) expressed grave concern over the current path President Obama has taken by engaging in a new form of executive appointments without Constitutional precedent. President Obama announced unprecedented appointments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today.

In a Chicago-style political move circumventing Congressional oversight and approval, President Obama appointed Richard Cordray to head the new CFPB. As an unaccountable agency, the nearly-autonomous CFPB is a drastic expansion of federal government power, potentially imposing burdensome and onerous requirements on an already over-regulated financial system.

"These unprecedented appointments have far exceeded the limits of presidential power," said Congressman Lankford. "Last year, the Senate demonstrated opposition to appoint Richard Cordray to the CFPB. To knowingly circumvent Congress in the final approval process is likely unconstitutional and politically irresponsible. This "agency' and its new director are accountable to no one but the President himself. The President is pushing the limits of the Constitution with his blatant power grab over the financial sector of our economy."

"Senator Obama would have never agreed to such an egregious abuse of power by the Executive Branch, but he is exercising unprecedented and unrestrained authority to do so as President Obama," continued Congressman Lankford. "Micromanagement of the economy to fit the philosophical worldview of any president is dangerous beyond description in a free market economy. This action would be wrong under a Republican president and it is wrong as imposed by the current president."

Also today, the President announced three new appointments to the NLRB, effectively stacking the panel with Obama union backers.

"The NLRB's power-grab to block Boeing from relocating to South Carolina and the reversal of that decision last year has already shown questionable judgment in their decision-making process," said Congressman Lankford. "We cannot allow President Obama to blatantly disregard the constitutional advise and consent authority to stack the board with his labor cronies, when the agency has already fallen off the tracks."

On Wednesday, President Obama announced Richard Cordray as head of the CFPB. He also appointed Sharon Block, Terence Flynn and Richard Griffin to the NLRB.

Source