President Obama Signs Executive Order Establishing Council of Governors

[Surf n Turf]

I figured that Posse Comitatus would be on the agenda. I know that there are big holes in the act, but I wonder if this is the repeal
SnT

President Obama Signs Executive Order Establishing Council of Governors

Executive Order will Strengthen Further Partnership Between the Federal and State and Local Governments to Better Protect Our Nation

The President today signed an Executive Order (attached) establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards.
The bipartisan Council will be composed of ten State Governors who will be selected by the President to serve two year terms.
When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.
Federal members of the Council include the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs, the U.S. Northern Command Commander, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The Secretary of Defense will designate an Executive Director for the Council.

From the EO
Sec. 2. Functions
(d) synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and
(e) other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...ncil-governors

Executive Order
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/defa...tive_order.pdf

[Paslode]

The bipartisan Council will be composed of ten State Governors who will be selected by the President to serve two year terms.

We'll have to wait and see how he stacks this deck, but based on the CZAR's, his idea of transparency and his agenda I don't hold out too much hope of it being fair, balanced or in the best interest of the people.

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by Paslode

We'll have to wait and see how he stacks this deck, but based on the CZAR's, his idea of transparency and his agenda I don't hold out too much hope of it being fair, balanced or in the best interest of the people.

The E.O. stipulates that no one political party will have a majority. 5 of each and the co-chairs will be a Dim and Rep. (caveat to this is that they are appointed, therefore politics will reign supreme as always.) It will be interesting to see where the representation falls. I am sure the smaller States will be left out in the cold, but we will see.

Seems more of a formalized relationship of the National Governor's Association with the Executive Branch.

Anything that comes out of Washington is suspect (as it should be), but this seems to provide a direct link for States into the Fed. Is that bad?

[Sten]

Originally Posted by Paslode

We'll have to wait and see how he stacks this deck, but based on the CZAR's, his idea of transparency and his agenda I don't hold out too much hope of it being fair, balanced or in the best interest of the people.

Did you read this part?

Section 1. Council of Governors.
(a)
There is established a Council of Governors (Council).The Council shall consist of 10 State Governors appointed bythe President (Members), of whom no more than five shall be of the same political party. The term of service for each Member appointed to serve on the Council shall be 2 years, but a Member may be reappointed for additional terms.
(b)
The President shall designate two Members, who shall not be members of the same political party, to serve asCo-Chairs of the Council.

of whom no more than five shall be of the same political party

Things that make you say hmmm... Does this leave the president open to mischief by appointing an independent who caucuses with his party?

[rubberneck]

I can think of several Republican Governors who might as well be Democrats so it can be tilted ideologically while remaining bi-partisan.

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by rubberneck

I can think of several Republican Governors who might as well be Democrats so it can be tilted ideologically while remaining bi-partisan.

Agree 100%.

But that which is born of the E.O. may die by the E.O.

We will see how much the "travel" involved costs us...and I'm not sure there are a lot of Govenors right now who can afford (fiscally and politically) to be distracted from their home State issues.

I would however like to step forward and volunteer the Govenor of Maryland to a position on the council. Perhaps he can be sent to Alaska for a very, very long time.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

Anything that comes out of Washington is suspect (as it should be), but this seems to provide a direct link for States into the Fed. Is that bad?

That depends on what the payoffs (if any....a Cornhusker clause) are.

The way I look at, Zero is likely to appoint folks that he feels he and his Administration can work with (manipulate). Another question one might consider is why we need a Obama appointed panel with limited participation when we already have a Governors Association which has a frame work and covers all 50 states.

Good or bad the end result is likely to be that the added bureaucracy will lead to a situation of no one knows what hand is doing what, who to call or who is responsible for what. And secondly as someone mentioned the smaller states may get the raw end of the stick.

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by Paslode

That depends on what the payoffs (if any) are.

A sad reflection on the lack of public trust and confidence in elected officials...of any level.

We are all pretty confident that there is going to be some sort of payoff, earmark or entitlement associated with this. We the People assume that we end up being screwed.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

A sad reflection on the lack of public trust and confidence in elected officials...of any level.

We are all pretty confident that there is going to be some sort of payoff, earmark or entitlement associated with this. We the People assume that we end up being screwed.

Unfortunately they have a overwhelming and persisting track record to lead to such assumptions, educated guesses and conclusions.

I would be far less pessimistic if say Obama said I would like a Governors Advisory Panel and I want the Governors Assoc. to send me the participants. The guidelines would be that all 50 Governors vote as to who will represent them and every region must be represented.

It isn't fool proof, but it would be far less likely Obama gets to pick and choose for whom he gets to deal with. Better yet limit participation based on State fiscal stability.

[JJ_BPK]

President Obama Signs Executive Order Establishing Council of Governors

The bipartisan Council will be composed of ten State Governors who will be selected by the President to serve two year terms.

Federal members of the Council include

• Secretary of Defense
• Secretary of Homeland Security
• Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
• Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
• Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs
• U.S. Northern Command Commander
• Commandant of the Coast Guard
• Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

The Secretary of Defense will designate an Executive Director for the Council.

Why will 10 state Governors report to the Defense Department,, Comrades???

Posse Comitatus is out the door...

[Richard]

Why will 10 state Governors report to the Defense Department,, Comrades??? Posse Comitatus is out the door...

...meet at the call of the Secretary of Defense or the Co-Chairs of the Council to exchange views, information, or advice...

I hardly think so - doesn't look as if anybody reports to anybody there - it's a Council to exchange views, information, or advice for:

- (a) matters involving the National Guard of the variousStates;
- (b) homeland defense;
- (c) civil support;
- (d) synchronization and integration of State and Federalmilitary activities in the United States; and
- (e) other matters of mutual interest pertaining toNational Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

Richard

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Why will 10 state Governors report to the Defense Department,, Comrades???

Posse Comitatus is out the door...

Barring Title 10 action it has not applied to NGB elements anyhow. From a military standpoint I look to our National Guard brethren on how this all sounds. At the call of the SECDEF and to provide views, information, or advice.....

My impression is that the Govenors are not very quick to give up their assets.

This includes the following forms of active service:
o State Active Duty (SAD). The Governor can activate National Guard personnel to “State Active Duty” in response to natural or man-made disasters or Homeland Defense missions. State Active Duty is based on State statute and policy as well as State funds, and the Soldiers and Airmen remain under the command and control of the Governor. A key aspect of this duty status is that the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) does not apply.
o Title 32 Full-Time National Guard Duty. “Full-time National Guard duty” means training or other duty, other than inactive duty, performed by a member of the National Guard. Title 32 allows the Governor, with the approval of the President or the Secretary of Defense, to order a member to duty for operational HLD activities IAW the United States Code (USC):
The key to state active service is that Federal Law provides the Governor with the ability to place a soldier in a full-time duty status under the command and control of the State but directly funded with Federal dollars. Even though this duty status is authorized by Federal statute, this section is a statutory exception to the Posse Comitatus Act; the Governor may use the Guard in a law enforcement capacity; and the chain of command rests within the State.

[Surf n Turf]

Looks like our friends north of the border have picked up on the EO
Richard, Was it you who "tipped-off" the Canadians
SnT

American Republic replaced by “Council of Governors”?
Canadian Free Press
Quietly—even stealthily—in the opening days of the New Year, President Barack Obama has set up a “Council of Governors”.

Like the 30-plus czars running America with neither the people’s nor the congress’s blessings, the Council of Governors is already a done deal.

“Is this a first step towards Martial Law, or a tie to the InterPol, RAND National Police Force stuff we’ve been hearing about,” asked a Texas patriot who tipped off Canada Free Press (CFP) after finding news of the new Council of Governors on Twitter. “Is this a sort of Homeland Security Politburo?
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/18890

[Surf n Turf]

In the study the authors talk about “foreign operations”, but feel constrained by the Posse Comitatus Act (rotation / downtime). Something does not compute –
SnT

A Stability Police Force for the United States
Establishing security is the sine qua non of stability operations, since it is a prerequisite for reconstruction and development. Security requires a mix of military and police forces to deal with a range of threats from insurgents to criminal organizations. This research examines the creation of a high-end police force, which the authors call a Stability Police Force (SPF). The study considers what size force is necessary, how responsive it needs to be, where in the government it might be located, what capabilities it should have, how it could be staffed, and its cost. This monograph also considers several options for locating this force within the U.S. government, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in the Department of State, and the U.S. Army's Military Police.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG819/

RAND STUDY
This project investigates the need for a U.S. Stability Police Force, the
major capabilities it would need if created, where in the federal government
it would best be headquartered, and how it should be staffed. In
doing so, it considers options based in the Departments of Defense,
Homeland Security, Justice, and State. The project was conducted
for the U.S. Army’s Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
(PKSOI).
The MP Corps has the opposite problem: it has the capacity to
take on the task, and arguably it has the skills due to its efforts in Iraq
and Afghanistan. However, its ability to maintain these skills during
periods when it is not engaged in large-scale stability operations is constrained
by the limits placed on its ability to perform civilian policing
functions by the Posse Comitatus Act. Without relief from this constraint, it could not take advantage of the opportunities provided by the hybrid staffing option to develop and maintain the needed skills.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG819.pdf