Why your vote counts

Published 4:44 pm Thursday, October 20, 2016

How great it would be if all candidates presented their views about issues and what their view of a better future would be rather than past issues with limited value to voters. Each of us could then decide for whom we should vote.

For me, following the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights, is my guiding light.

In the course of the last eight years, the president has written more and more “executive orders.” They are simply a way to circumvent Congress. The pace of these orders has hastened since his last election. Some have not only circumvented Congress, but were illegal. I am concerned this may set the precedent for the next president.

One power that the president does have is to propose replacements to the Supreme Court.

The Senate must approve that nomination. This year, when Justice Scalia died, some Democrats wanted the President to ignore the Senate’s prerogative to approve the president’s choice.

Will the next president ignore the Senate and try to seat the next Justice without Senate approval?

Frank Ruff represents Lunenburg in the Senate. His email address is Sen.Ruff@verizon.net.