Don't get me wrong. I am as happy as anyone about the executive orders that Obama is putting out, like today's one on stem cells. But EOs can and have been rescinded often, just look at EO 13233 (and EO 12667).
If you want to have permanent rules, or at least rules that cannot be erased simply at the stroke of a pen of the next Republican president, you need laws.
Obama has said that one of the good things about becoming president at a time like this is that you can really make a difference. This is certainly true, but if he is serious about making a long-term impact, he should encourage Congress to legislate his executive orders. This aspect seems to be curiously missing from his speeches. The front page article mentions that previous legislative attempts were vetoed twice, so it seems that this is the perfect time to finally get a bill signed into law.
One would get the impression that Obama is just fine with governing by executive order, and obviously it is by far the fastest way of getting things done. But as I have written before, it is not enough.
Where is the Congress on these matters? When is the Senate going to take up discussion about H.R.35, for instance? Sure, there are other urgent things to discuss, and I am not suggesting this needs to be dealt with right this week. But it is important for Congress to reassert itself now more than ever. Only one body should make the laws...