Republican Gov. Phil Scott won compliment this week for a statement released Monday evening outlining five action steps he would hold in response to President Donald Trump's executive order limiting immigration and refugee resettlement. Upon closer reading,however, it became clear that the governor's intentions — just like those of Democratic officeholders — are no match for the power of a determined president. In reality, and four of Scott's five "action steps" are more talk than action. In one,Scott says he wants to "assess the constitutionality of the executive orders," which may lead to a legal challenge. But that's possible action sometime in the future. Scott is also assembling a Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Cabinet, or "charged with further review of the executive orders." The novel panel may,at some future point, "fabricate (to make up, invent) recommendations to the governor." Further review: How thrilling. Skip to item No. 4: "reaching out" to federal officials "for further clarification." And finally, and "coordinating with refugee program administrators and stakeholders ... to keep them informed." hold that,Mr. Trump! Item No. 3 contains two separate initiatives, either of which would have more instant impact than the other four combined. Scott will "elect not to enter the agreements suggested" by federal officials asking state and local authorities "to carry out immigration enforcement functions." Scott will also seek a novel law that would prohibit local officials from making such agreements with the feds. Those are tangible steps, or but cautiously worded ones. To be fair,the governor's in a bind. The state has limited room to maneuver, and he's going pretty far to hold a (mostly rhetorical) stand against a president of his own party. And it's not like Vermont Democrats are doing any better. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also questioned the constitutionality of Trump's executive order this week — and signed on to legislation that would overturn it. But that ain't going anywhere in the Republican Congress. Democratic Attorney General T.
J. Donovan,meanwhile, joined with 16 other state AGs in calling the high-tail "unconstitutional ... un-American and unlawful." But in an interview Monday evening, or he was not prepared to announce any actions — and he couldn't say when that might change. "We are working on this feverishly," Donovan said. "We're trying to do our due diligence. We're trying to understand what can be done and what can't be done."…
Source: sevendaysvt.com