Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) has a list of executive orders he is weighing to enact if he becomes president, and they cover just about everything.
The list includes “dozens” of potential executive orders that address policy priorities from marijuana and immigration to prescription drugs and climate change, according to The Washington Post. Lists of the executive orders had no yet been made public, but The Washington Post was able to review a copy of the document.
On immigration, Sanders internal list of potential EOs includes:
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) January 30, 2020
– Reinstate DACA, TPS
– Immediately end construction of "racist" border wall
– Rescind public charge rule
– Direct DHS to halt ICE raids
– Lift Trump's cap on refugees
– Ban private prisonshttps://t.co/8pSYOLJddD
Details of the document come at a time when Sanders’ campaign is ascending in the polls. Despite his odds improving in New Hampshire and Iowa, though, many Democrats have questioned whether any of his big, bold ideas could ever become law.
This document of executive orders sheds light on the kinds of things Sanders could do without involving Congress.
Some of the executive orders include options for reversing President Donald Trump’s executive orders, like a lift on the cap of refugees the United States will accept and a total shutdown of border wall construction.
Sanders is also considering an executive order to reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which grants legal status to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as kids.
However, the list is extensive and goes well beyond just immigration. Via the Post:
“The list of potential executive orders includes unilaterally allowing the United States to import prescription drugs from Canada; directing the Justice Department to legalize marijuana; and declaring climate change a national emergency while banning the exportation of crude oil. Other options cited in the document include canceling federal contracts for firms paying less than $15 an hour and reversing federal rules blocking U.S. funding to organizations that provide abortion counseling.”
Throughout his campaign, Sanders has been criticized for far-left policies that would never survive a vote in Congress. These potential executive orders appear to be his response to those questions — and his plan for avoiding Congress altogether.
According to the Washington Post, the document, prepared by some of Sanders’ top campaign staff, read:
“As we continue discussing the early work of your presidency and the progress we can make, below for review is a brief overview of executive actions you could take early in your administration. We cannot accept delays from Congress on some of the most pressing issues, especially those like immigration where Trump has governed with racism and for his own corrupt benefit.”
Mike Casca, a spokesperson for the Sanders campaign, did not dispute the accuracy of the Post’s reporting.
“We’re focused on organizing a huge voter turnout in Iowa on Monday,” he said in a statement to the paper.