Obama Breaks His Promise on Presidential Signing Statements
Posted on July 10, 2009
“What George Bush has been trying to do as part of his effort to accumulate more power in the presidency is he’s been saying ‘well I can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don’t agree with this part or I don’t agree with that part,” Obama said last year during a campaign stop. “I’m gonna’ choose to interpret it this way or that way.’ That’s not part of his power. But this is part of the whole theory of George Bush that he can make laws as he’s going along. I disagree with that. I taught the constitution for 10 years. I believe in the constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States.
“We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end-run around Congress.”
The House rebuked President Obama for trying to ignore restrictions to international aid payments, voting overwhelmingly for an amendment forcing the administration to abide by its constraints.
House members approved an amendment by a 429-2 vote to have the Obama administration pressure the World Bank to strengthen labor and environmental standards and require a Treasury Department report on World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) activities. The amendment to a 2010 funding bill for the State Department and foreign operations was proposed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), but it received broad bipartisan support.
The conditions on World Bank and IMF funding were part of the $106 billion war supplemental bill that was passed last month. Obama, in a statement made as he signed the bill, said that he would ignore the conditions.
They would “interfere with my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations by directing the Executive to take certain positions in negotiations or discussions with international organizations and foreign governments, or by requiring consultation with the Congress prior to such negotiations or discussions,” Obama said in the signing statement.
Hat tip: Hot Air
» Filed Under Constitution, Foreign Policy, Hypocrisy/Situational Ethics, News, Separation of Powers, U.S. Constitution, Video
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3 Responses to “Obama Breaks His Promise on Presidential Signing Statements”
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He may have “taught” Constitutional law, but I seriously doubt he ever actually read it!
I am going to have to disagree. The president does in fact have power to interpret the law.
If Congress disagrees they can always impeach him or amend the law. If the Supreme court disagrees then the can come out and say it but not actually enforce it as the federal course have found out in some cases. The can of course refuse to enforce an interpretation they disagree with as can the President.
If you actually look at the U.S. Constitution the President takes an oath to be loyal to the U.S. Constitution and not to Congress or the Supreme Court.
I would disagree here too.
As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right on this. Congress was the one overstepping their authority by trying to tell him how to conduct foreign policy. He isn’t Constitutionally bound by that amendment.