I'm honestly not sure how you can read that article and see it as Congress balancing the executive branch. Blocking future ability to do something is not the same thing as "approving" or "balancing" executive power. The fact that Republicans are claiming that this is a good balance of power doesn't mean it is. This was a vote by congress, to restrict congress's ability to act in the future. That is not the way the system is designed to work.
As my very first comment pointed out, no this isn't new. And it's bad every time. It's always been bad, it continues to be bad. This is just one of the more naked and egregious cases. But no, not new.
