Blessing Issues Statement on A.I. Executive Order

COLUMBUS—Senator Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) issued the following statement on the executive order issued by President Trump overriding certain state laws regulating artificial intelligence:

"It is hard for me to find the right words upon hearing of President Trump’s executive order attempting to void state laws that regulate AI; laws that are deemed “harmful” by the administration. So, I will state it simply: I condemn this executive order in the strongest possible terms.

It is not up to the White House to determine what state laws are good and which are bad. Not only is it blatantly unconstitutional, but it’s also deeply insulting. It implies that only the White House knows what is best in terms of AI policy, strong-arming Congress into rubber stamping its agenda, and ultimately brow-beating SCOTUS into blessing it as constitutional when the lawsuits reach that level.

If members of Congress and the state legislatures, as well as SCOTUS, cannot be bothered to push back, or worse, attempt to ratify it in an embarrassing display of obsequiousness, then that is fine. In that case, we should refrain from describing America as a Republic, as it will have clearly ceased to be one. Do not cry foul when future administrations, irrespective of party, understand that they can steamroll legislatures, Congress, and the courts through executive order.

In doing my part, I will be introducing a resolution condemning this executive order as well as all attempts by Congress to legislate a moratorium on AI policy. If conservatism is defined today as supporting one’s party to the detriment of the Constitution’s separation of powers, then it has no meaning at all."