Gregory Pratt Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/24/law...h.ap/index.html President Bush's penchant for writing exceptions to laws he has just signed violates the Constitution, an American Bar Association task force says in a report highly critical of the practice. The ABA group, which includes a one-time FBI director and former federal appeals court judge, said the president has overstepped his authority in attaching challenges to hundreds of new laws. The attachments, known as bill-signing statements, say Bush reserves a right to revise, interpret or disregard measures on national security and constitutional grounds. "This report raises serious concerns crucial to the survival of our democracy," said the ABA's president, Michael Greco. "If left unchecked, the president's practice does grave harm to the separation of powers doctrine, and the system of checks and balances that have sustained our democracy for more than two centuries." Some congressional leaders had questioned the practice. The task force's recommendations, being released Monday in Washington, will be presented to the 410,000-member group next month at its annual meeting in Hawaii. ABA policymakers will decide whether to denounce the statements and encourage a legal fight over them. The task force said the statements suggest the president will decline to enforce some laws. Bush has had more than 800 signing statement challenges, compared with about 600 signing statements combined for all other presidents, the group said. Noel J. Francisco, a former Bush administration attorney who practices law in Washington, said the president is doing nothing unusual or inappropriate. "Presidents have always issued signing statements," he said. "This administration believes that it should make clear ... when the Congress is getting close to the lines that our Constitution draws." Bull on the bold. But it's okay: he's fighting terra! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackie hayes Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52748 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted July 29, 2006 Author Share Posted July 29, 2006 QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Jul 29, 2006 -> 10:23 AM) http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52748 I hate you. I can't believe I posted in that thread and had forgotten about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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