Posted on 07/21/2009 6:14:06 PM PDT by SmithL
President Barack Obama has irked close allies in Congress by declaring he has the right to ignore legislation on constitutional grounds after having criticized George W. Bush for doing the same.
Four senior House Democrats on Tuesday said they were "surprised" and "chagrined" by Obama's declaration in June that he doesn't have to comply with provisions in a war spending bill that puts conditions on aid provided to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
In a signing statement accompanying the $106 billion bill, Obama said he wouldn't allow the legislation to interfere with his authority as president to conduct foreign policy and negotiate with other governments.
Earlier in his six-month-old administration, Obama issued a similar statement regarding provisions in a $410 billion omnibus spending bill. He also included qualifying remarks when signing legislation that established commissions to govern public lands in New York, investigate the financial crisis and celebrate Ronald Reagan's birthday.
"During the previous administration, all of us were critical of (Bush's) assertion that he could pick and choose which aspects of congressional statutes he was required to enforce," the Democrats wrote in their letter to Obama. "We were therefore chagrined to see you appear to express a similar attitude."
The letter was signed by Reps. David Obey of Wisconsin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, as well as Reps. Nita Lowey and Gregory Meeks, both of New York, who chair subcommittees on those panels.
Obama needs Obey and Frank in particular to push through Congress key pieces of his agenda, including health care and financial oversight reform.
The White House said Tuesday the administration plans to implement the provisions of the bill and suggested that Obama's signing statement was aimed more at defending the president's...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I don’t understand the July 21 date on this article. The event took place around July 10:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2290185/posts
Next, he’ll be ruling by decree. He’ll have to, because even the Dims in Congress are going to freak out at his plans.
It isn’t just Obama. Each party lets its president get away with grabbing power and then is surprised when it is used. Conservatives should not have been cheering when Bush did this.
Government should always be kept small and on a short leash. The power your side accrues today will be used against you when others are in power tomorrow.
Since when has obama let a little thing like the law or the Constitution stop his dreams and desires. obama is an illegal President - where’s the birth certificate obama?!
Four senior House Democrats on Tuesday said they were "surprised" and "chagrined" by Obama's declaration in June that
O can sure piss off a lot of people.
We do not normally sing the praises of Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), however, in this instance, he is exactly correct in STRONGLY CRITICIZING Pres. Obama's deliberate decision to ignore constraints in legislation he is signing. The House overwhelmingly REBUKED Obama by a vote of 429 - 2 for Obama's statement at a bill's signing that he would not follows its constraints.
At issue is an amendment added to the $106 Billion Supplemental War-Funding legislation signed by Obama last month. During the signing, Obama stated he would not follow the amendment's constraints with respect to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Obama stated the conditions "interfered" with his powers as President. After the overwhelming rebuke of the President by the House, Barney Frank said of the stunning vote against Obama:
"We do this not just on behalf of this institution, but ON BEHALF OF THIS DEMOCRACY. There's kind of a unilateralism, an UNDEMOCRATIC, UNREACHABLE way about these signing statements."
In other words, Obama is a lying communist bastard.
What else did you expect given his background and friends? A Hubert Humphrey liberal?
No, gang, you got a Chicago Joe Stalin in-progress.
It takes a little time for people unscrew the heads from their posteriors, because there rust is a little thick chiefly because of the length of time of the embedment.
I would like to know exactly for what and when President Bush did this, and how many times. Before I believe a liberal on ANYTHING, I need to see the facts.
I love it when Obama, faced with reality, must do exactly what “dumb, incurious, monkey” George W. Bush, did...(smirk)
The “Carterization” of Obama has begun.
Should they have been cheering when Reagan did it?
President George W. Bush was not the first to issue signing statements. Actually he issued the fewest of any president since 1981.
President Reagan issued 250 signing statements
President George H.W. Bush issued 228 signing statements
Clinton issued 381 signing statements
President George W. Bush issued 152 signing statements
The house democrats are figuring out that being a representative in the world’s greatest democracy is a lot more fun than being a politburo member in a third rate has been country.
Thank you!
Although there is a definite liberal bent to this site, you can find what you are looking for here!
Thank you...that is a super website! Bookmarked it for future reference. Again, just wow!
Your welcome...happy hunting. You will notice they are overly focused on President Bush even though he had far fewer signing statements.
I am against any increase in government power or in one part of government gaining the upper hand over another. The power ceded to government when you like the people in power will be used by the people you do not like when they are in power.
The founding fathers did their best to give us limited government, and Americans have been steadily giving up their freedom and ability to control our government ever since. We are on our way to becoming like the European welfare states.
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