Fox News Senor Judicial Analyst, and stalwart libertarian hero, Judge Andrew Napolitano wrote an op-ed this morning characterizing President Trump’s latest executive order on Obamacare as “a breeze of freedom in a sea of regulation.” The order, which is intentioned as the beginning of the end for President Obama’s signature healthcare law, instructs bureaucrats administering the law to exercise any discretionary power they have in favor of individuals and against the government.
“When Trump promised that as president — on “day one” — he would begin to dismantle Obamacare, some Republicans, many members of the press and most Democrats laughed at him. They are laughing no longer because the first executive order he signed on Jan. 20 directed those in the federal government who enforce Obamacare to do so expecting that it will soon not exist,” said Napolitano.
“He ordered that regulations already in place be enforced with a softer, more beneficent tone, and he ordered that no penalty, fine, setoff or tax be imposed by the IRS on any person or entity who is not complying with the individual mandate, because by the time taxes are due on April 15, the IRS will be without authority to impose or collect the non-tax tax, as the individual mandate will no longer exist. Why take money from people that will soon be returned? Then he ordered a truly revolutionary act, the likes of which I have never seen in the 45 years I have studied and monitored the government’s laws and its administration of them. He ordered that when bureaucrats who are administering and enforcing the law have discretion with respect to the time, place, manner, and severity of its enforcement, they should exercise that discretion in favor of individuals and against the government.”
The Judge, who is a solidly libertarian figure and unafraid to criticize any politicians on unconstitutional or liberty-destructive behavior, characterized this move by Trump as “utterly without precedent since Jefferson’s presidency,” and praised the 45th president saying his actions as far more Thomas Jefferson (small government), than Teddy Roosevelt (big government / regulation). The president has confided in the counsel of Judge Napolitano multiple times in recent months concerning the imminent decision he must make regarding a new Supreme Court Justice; and the two seem to have developed a mutual respect and admiration of one another. What do you think? Is this latest move by Trump beneficial for the American people? How is the president doing so far on keeping his campaign promises? Watch the Judge talk about his conversations with president Trump and then let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.
