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Senator John Thune highlighted yesterday vast leadership failures at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and shed light on how bureaucratic institutions like the FCC have hijacked the separation of powers doctrine that has guided this nation.

Thune powerfully condemned the systemic misuse of an organization that was meant, in his words, “to be places of expertise” to inform policy-making. However, the FCC has not embodied this key role for quite some time. Thune continued:

In recent years, the FCC has behaved less as an independent commission accountable to Congress, and more as a de facto arm of the executive branch, wholly subservient to the President. At the same time, the FCC has become more partisan than ever before, and an institution that has seized greater regulatory power while simultaneously shutting down bipartisan dialogue and compromise.”

In a time where the regulatory arm of the Executive Branch would make any one of our founders cringe, it is vital to sustaining our liberty that we recognize the reality of our situation as Senator Thune has done.

Thune’s words also ring true in a time where brave representatives in our legislature are trying to reclaim the promise that our founders handed down to us that our government would not have the power to act so unilaterally as to restrict our most basic freedoms.

The Separation of Powers Restoration Act (SOPRA) reels in the power that federal agencies and unelected bureaucrats have to dictate the policy that governs each American.

Introduced by Congressman John Ratcliffe (R-Tex.), as well as Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Mike Lee (R-Utah), SOPRA ends judicial deference to a 1984 court decision that requires courts to accept the executive branch’s interpretation of any law passed by Congress that may be vague in any way.

The FCC and the Obama administration have been allowed to run rampant, because of this irresponsible decision. Thune, along with these representatives are trying to solidify the truth that each branch of government is on equal footing.

Thune’s words go a long way in exposing the tacit acceptance of government overreach in this country. This precedent must not be allowed to continue.