Obama's Executive Orders Part 3: What Has He Done?

In 2013, Congress had 232 days of vacation.
In 2014 Congress will have 239 vacation days.
(ulife, 2014)

Gang violence, drug cartels, and overwhelming poverty have taken their toll on our Central American neighbors. The dire situation has made its way to our southern border with tens of thousands of unaccompanied children streaming into Texas monthly in search of asylum. There is no doubt the issue clearly needs to be addressed in some compassionate order.

Although Congressional lawmakers are on vacation, Speaker of the House John Boehner penned an opinion editorial this week titled, "Do Your Job, Mr. President." He delivered his last minute prose to the press saying there are several steps Obama "can and should" do "without the need for congressional action" to secure the southern U.S. border. Great advice from the Speaker to The White House, but it stands in bold contrast to the lawsuit filed the week before by Speaker Boehner claiming Obama does too much without approval from Congress. So which is it, John?

House Conservatives Plan To Oust Boehner as Speaker in 2015
(Bayou Buzz, 2014)

The President has repeatedly scolded Congress for not doing enough to address immigration reform complaining often and loudly that House Republicans are to blame for stalling crucial legislation. At the same time, conservatives scold Obama for doing too much. Ken Klukowski, of Breitbart.com, boldly claims, "Obama's orders are making and breaking the law," adding, "It makes no difference whether he issues fewer orders than past presidents. They issued orders about how to follow the law, but he's issuing orders not to follow the law."

The House has indeed had a turbulent time dealing with immigration reform. After initially withdrawing its $645 million immigration bill because of lack of GOP support, House lawmakers passed that bill with full support from the Republican Party just before running off to their home districts, not to return until September.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, R-Nevada, said he was disappointed with the Republicans blocking the $2.7 billion bill as originally proposed. The House bill is not expected to pass in the Senate. "Once again, Republicans have demonstrated that they are more interested in playing partisan politics and holding innocent children ransom than doing what is right for our country," Reid said, adding, "The original legislation as proposed would have provided necessary resources to address the urgent humanitarian crisis created by the thousands of children fleeing the terrible violence in Central America."

The House also voted to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which exempts up to 500,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation. Ali Noorani, executive director of National Immigration Forum, noted that a "broad majority" want immigration reform, but Congress is failing to pass a comprehensive solution to the long term problem. According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, Obama is weighing executive action on immigration reform in late August or early September pending legal options and recommendations by the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice.

In an effort to clear up the confusion on what Obama has actually done so far with these so-called "law breaking" Executive Orders, we've compiled a list, with links, of the actual EOs themselves. Take a look.

To review, Obama has, in fact, penned fewer EOs than any other modern President.

Obama Exec Orders By Year

In 2009 he signed 39 Executive orders
In 2010 he signed 35 Executive orders
In 2011 he signed 34 Executive order
In 2012 he signed 39 Executive order
In 2013 he signed 20 Executive order
In 2014 he has signed 17 Executive orders

We had to break up these orders by year, due to space restrictions, so here is the complete list from 2011. For more information, just click on the Order you want to know more about.

Executive Order 13563 Signed January 18, 2011
Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

Executive Order 13564 Signed January 31, 2011
Establishment of the President's Council on
Jobs and Competitiveness

Executive Order 13565 Signed February 8, 2011
Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committees

Executive Order 13566 Signed February 25, 2011
Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya

Executive Order 13567 Signed March 7, 2011
Periodic Review of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station Pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force

Executive Order 13568 Signed March 8, 2011
Extending Provisions of the International Organizations Immunities Act 
to the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
and the International Civilian Office in Kosovo

Executive Order 13569 Signed April 5, 2011
Amendments to Grammar in Executive Orders and Revocation of 
White House Office of Health Reform

Executive Order 13570 Signed April 18, 2011
Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to North Korea

Executive Order 13571 Signed April 27, 2011
Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service 
from Government Agencies

Executive Order 13572 Signed April 29, 2011
Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to 
Human Rights Abuses in Syria

Executive Order 13573 Signed May 18, 2011
Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the
Government of Syria

Executive Order 13574 Signed May 23, 2011
Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions 
Set Forth in the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996

Executive Order 13575 Signed June 9, 2011
Establishment of the White House Rural Council

Executive Order 13576 Signed June 13, 2011
Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government 

Executive Order 13577 Signed June 15, 2011
Establishment of the SelectUSA Initiative 

Executive Order 13578 Signed July 6, 2011
Coordinating Policies on Automotive Communities and Workers

Executive Order 13579 Signed July 11, 2011
Regulation and Independent Regulatory Agencies

Executive Order 13580 Signed July 12, 2011
Interagency Working Group on Coordination of
Domestic Energy Development and Permitting in Alaska

Executive Order 13581 Signed July 24, 2011
Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations

Executive Order 13582 Signed August 17, 2011
Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and
Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect To Syria

Executive Order 13583 Signed August 18, 2011
Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to
Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce

Executive Order 13584 Signed September 9, 2011
Developing an Integrated Strategic Counterterrorism
Communications Initiative and Establishing a
Temporary Organization To Support Certain
Government-wide Communications Activities Directed Abroad

Executive Order 13585 Signed September 30, 2011
Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees

Executive Order 13586 Signed October 6, 2011
Establishing an Emergency Board to Investigate
Disputes Between Certain Railroads Represented by the
National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway
Labor Conference and Their Employees Represented by
Certain Labor Organizations

Executive Order 13587 Signed October 7, 2011
Structural Reforms To Improve the Security of
Classified Networks and the Responsible Sharing and
Safeguarding of Classified Information

Executive Order 13588 Signed October 31, 2011
Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages

Executive Order 13589 Signed November 9, 2011
Promoting Efficient Spending

Executive Order 13590 Signed November 20, 2011
Authorizing the Imposition of Certain Sanctions
With Respect to the Provisions of Goods, Services,
Technology, or Support for Iran's Energy and Petrochemical Sectors

Executive Order 13591 Signed November 23, 2011
Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees

Executive Order 13592 Signed December 2, 2011
Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational
Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities

Executive Order 13593 Signed December 13, 2011
2011 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

Executive Order 13594 Signed December 19, 2011
Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay

Executive Order 13595 Signed December 19, 2011
Instituting a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security

Executive Order 13596 Signed December 19, 2011
Amendments to President’s Export Council

None of the above list seems to be anything but indicative of a POTUS who is working to help our country, every day. Does anything stand out for you? Comprehensive law making by Congress would supersede any Executive Order the President manifests and EOs can be rescinded and/or replaced by future Presidents. Do any of the orders from 2011 seem lawless in nature?

Keep an eye out for our last three pieces in this series, 2012, 2013, and 2014.