Congress: Do your job!

As the Supreme Court deliberates over whether the President’s wide-ranging tariffs are legal, Congress should not wait to reassert its increasingly vacated constitutional power over how the government raises revenue and who bears the burden of taxation.  This week, members of the House took a baby step by introducing bipartisan legislation to exempt coffee from the tariffs.  The price of coffee has soared as historically high tariffs are being passed along as price increases which have the greatest impact on low- and middle-income consumers.

Meanwhile, a group of House Republicans joined Democrats in pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to retake the lead on setting tariffs. Johnson is reported to have agreed “to immediately convene a working group within the Republican conference to address the tariff issue, including possible measures to modify existing policy and clarify Congress’s role in setting that policy.”  

In April, Senate Finance Committee members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced legislation “to restore Congress’ constitutionally authorized role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy. The Trade Review Act of 2025 would require congressional approval of unilateral tariffs proposed by the executive branch.” Here’s how the Finance Committee describes its jurisdiction.

As we have pointed out, Trump’s tariffs – coupled with his budget legislation – alter the US social contract by shifting the burden of taxation from wealthier Americans to those at fewer resources, while cutting several major programs benefiting low-income people.

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