Mrvan condemns Trump's 'incoherent and overreaching' executive orders

Northwest Indiana's representative in Congress is urging the White House to dial back the whirlwind of executive orders issued by Republican President Donald Trump and to rely instead on the normal legislative process to make federal policy changes.

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, spoke on the floor of the U.S. House Monday to detail what he described as his constituents' "abject frustration" caused by "the administration's incoherent and overreaching executive orders."

The three-term congressman said Trump's ceaseless directives are causing "unnecessary confusion in their failed attempts to improve government efficiencies."

Mrvan specifically pointed to three examples to show the savings Trump claims to have achieved are, in reality, just a show:

• "Is it efficient when individuals, small businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations that provide benefits to seniors, veterans and children are frozen without guidance?"
• "Is it efficient when a federal employee hired for 20 years, living in my district, is told to report back to an office in (Washington) D.C. that never existed?"
• "Is it efficient when officials immediately end public transit services that seniors rely upon and when community health centers that provide essential services to vulnerable populations can't access government websites?"

Mrvan said all three actually are increasing inefficiency in government, wasting taxpayer dollars and should not continue.

"As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I encourage the administration to look forward and put their proposals in their upcoming budget request, and let's begin the constitutional process and real negotiations, with checks and balances, to benefit the American people," Mrvan said.

Mrvan represents Indiana's 1st Congressional District that includes all of Lake and Porter counties, along with northwest LaPorte County.