Chuck Grassley Hated Obama’s Executive Orders. But Now…?

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has long prided himself on providing a strong check on the executive branch. At campaign events and town halls during his reelection effort last year, he often touted how he’s stood up to both Republican and Democratic presidents, noting he once particularly ran afoul of Ronald Reagan’s supporters.

And yet he’s been noticeably silent so far on Donald Trump’s far-reaching, unilateral ban on entrance to the U.S. for people from many majority-Muslim nations, which has thrown worldwide travel into chaos and has been quickly challenged by the courts.

That’s a change in demeanor from when Barack Obama was president. Back then, Grassley accused Obama of acting like Richard Nixon.

Pres Obama flagrantly violating his oath w threats to do immigration by fiat. He is getting dangerous close to assuming a Nixonian posture

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) November 11, 2014

He harshly criticized Obama’s usage of executive orders, especially on matters of immigration. Back in 2014 when House and Senate Republicans refused to work with Obama, the president resorted to issuing an executive order to defer deportations of up to 5 million immigrants and expanded protection to “DREAMers,” the undocumented immigrants who came to America as children.

Pres Obama wants to immigration by ExecOrder. That wld be unconstitutional Does he think Constitution Writers wanted a King

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) November 6, 2014

At the time Grassley warned the action would “poison” relationships between Congress and the President, and vowed to overturn it. A legal challenge that eventually reached the Supreme Court did halt much of its implementation.

Just earlier in the week, Grassley took to Twitter to complain about the lack of Congressional oversight he was seeing unfold so far.

I hope somebody in White House will explain to Pres Trump how important the oversight responsibility is to this senator

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) January 25, 2017

However, it’s easy to make broad criticisms of the process. Opposing a specific policy like Trump’s new Muslim ban, which is backed by parts of the Republican base, has yet to draw Grassley’s ire. Despite the occasional criticisms of Trump, Grassley has largely played the part of a loyal Republican during the biggest controversies.

Although while much of the country was in an uproar yesterday over Trump’s chaotic ban on travel, Iowa’s senior senator did have time to take in a college basketball game and tweet out updates from it.

Tied at59. Go overtime UNI/Drake

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) January 28, 2017

Update: Grassley released a short statement this afternoon commanding the executive order, but highlighting the implementation of it as important.

Here's a statement from @ChuckGrassley on Trump's immigration order. The goals are "commendable," he says, but "implementation will be key." pic.twitter.com/mcoxwB9G76

— Jason Noble (@jasonnobleIA) January 29, 2017

by Pat Rynard
Posted 1/29/17