Posted on 05/06/2017 5:23:14 AM PDT by Helicondelta
President Trump signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill on Friday, and used the opportunity to attach a signing statement that asserted presidential prerogatives on issues of war powers, marijuana and government spending.
The signing statement was Trump's first as president, and could signal that he intends to use the tool to vigorously defend what he sees as the president's constitutional authority. Through the statement, Trump reserved the right to disregard 89 different provisions in the spending bill.
► Marijuana: The spending law forbids the Justice Department from spending any money to prevent 44 states from implementing their own laws on medical marijuana. Yet Trump said that law conflicts with his constitutional responsibility to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." leaving open the possibility that his administration could challenge state and local medical marijuana laws.
► Weapons systems: Several provisions forbid the administration from canceling weapons programs, such as the RQ-4B Global Hawk or A-10 aircraft. Another forbids the president from funding nuclear-armed interceptors — a form of missile defense that uses nuclear weapons to shoot down other nuclear weapons. Trump said those provisions "unconstitutionally limit my ability to modify the command and control of military personnel and materiel."
► Affirmative action: Congress has established programs giving preferences based on race and sex in hiring, grants and government contracts. Trump said he would interpret those provisions "consistent with the requirement to afford equal protection of the laws" under the Constitution.
(Excerpt) Read more at usatoday.com ...
Affirmative Action out the door?
Be still my heart!
Poor decision to sign bill. Veto should have been used.
“Veto should have been used.”
Bill was passed with a veto proof majority.
All three issues are very interesting.
The Congress defunds federal marijuana law enforcement. The President asserts he must faithfully execute the laws of the land. Yet, isn’t a spending bill a law? The same could be said - in reverse - of the war in Syria. Congress is funding it. Therefore, the Congress must approve. of it. I might prefer the Congress address marijuana reform through law, and explicitly authorize the war in Syria. But, sometimes, that’s not the way the business of the federal government is done.
I appreciate the jealousy of each branch regarding its Constitutional authorities and duties. In our system, there’s a tension between the President and the Congress.
Yeah, that's never happened before! Of course it should have been vetoed. I heard something about a new sheriff in town. It would no longer be business as usual. WTP were back in control of America. Aside from the handful of people manning the bucket brigade helping the Gopee find the finish line, there was NO support for this CRap. Our President would have had the full support from WTP if he had forced this. If only.
That’s not it works. They got Veto proof majority in theory but if the President Vetos the bill they would have to vote to override the Vero in both houses with super majorities. It’s a different vote... you’re welcome
This takes away the shutdown argument. And Mulvaney gets to present a real budget in September.
so why can’t Trump interpret the budget as the maximum he can spend for the EPA or State Dept etc but not the amount he must spend and therefore proceed with all his cuts throughout the rest of the fiscal year?
Correct. That’s why signing statements are bs. We cant have any president cherry picking what to enforce.
If I’m not mistaken, USA Today, and other Gannett properties cannot be excerpted on FR. Links only.
Nothing stops his cabinet from cutting from a management standpoint and have money left at the end of the year.
Sundance is always excellent in his analysis.
He would be on record vetoing it and let the Vermin show themselves ..
He just another Swamp monster himself now.
Love funding billions for the Muslim invasion he trashed non stop during the election and that Busy Muslim Visas program still shipping the terrorists right here too ...
There is no excuse here
Yeah!! This is no better than having Hillary as President!! The Democrats are getting everything they want. That is why they are all praising President Trump for everything he is doing.
Sadly your right .
A Hillary or Barry’s budget set up by Paul Ryan and Mitchy and written by Dem party lobbyists .
It’s the Democrat -Uniparty budget fully funded with all the stuff he campaigned against then turned around and spoon them their swamp juice ..
Trump is part of the swamp now .
Extremely awful signing idea.
He can’t criticize something he funded already .
http://www.crfb.org/blogs/appropriations-watch-fy-2017
The president doesn’t have to sign continuing budget resolutions. But it’s a bill. He could have vetoed it.
Conservatives aren’t concerned (at this time) about mandatory spending. Those are things required by law to be paid, e.g. social security, etc.
What concerns us is discretionary spending: all of that is on the table. The `rats got what they wanted.
The only thing these dunghill roosters haven’t crowed about this budgetary quick-fix go-around is: “You don’t have to like it! We won.”
> Bill was passed with a veto proof majority.
Doesn’t mean that they’ll vote the same way next time. Stir the pot and make them redo all the crooked little deals they made to get the first abomination out the door.
That said, any brinksmanship should be saved for the upcoming September round.
Yeah! In fact, Hillary probably would have pulled us out of TPP, cause she had some doubts about it! She would have totally defunded Planned Parenthood, instead of just allowing the States to do it!
We will never know how much smaller the Federal Government would have gotten if we had only rejected this clown of a President and elected the smartest woman in the world! Just think! Bill Clinton back in the White House as first gentleman! Chelsea Clinton hobnobbing with Merkel instead of Ivanka! And the plot to eliminate alt-right media would have worked! The list of missed opportunities is endless!
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