Senators Consider Suing Bush Over Use Of Signing Statements To Bypass Laws

[kpete]

Senator considers suit over Bush law challenge
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 28, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Arlen Specter, said yesterday that he is ``seriously considering" filing legislation to give Congress legal standing to sue President Bush over his use of signing statements to reserve the right to bypass laws.

Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, made his comments after a Judiciary Committee hearing on signing statements, which are official documents that Bush has used to challenge the constitutionality of more than 750 laws when signing legislation .

Bush has issued more signing statements than all previous presidents combined. But he has never vetoed a bill, depriving Congress of any chance to override his judgment. If Congress had the power to sue Bush, Specter said, the Supreme Court could determine whether the president's objections are valid under the Constitution.

``There is a sense that the president has taken the signing statements far beyond the customary purviews," Specter said at the hearing. He added that ``there's a real issue here as to whether the president may, in effect, cherry-pick the provisions he likes, excluding the provisions he doesn't like. . . . The president has the option under the Constitution to veto or not."

more at:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/06/28/senator_considers_suit_over_bush_law_challenge/

[nickinSTL]

1. "there's a real issue here..."

Uh, not really...what he's doing is unconstitutional. Period.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Maybe he should have opposed Samuel Alito,

who was a big promoter of signing statements for the Reagan Administration.

[Supersedeas]

3. "there is a sense???" -- why does Arlen always equivocate

[bryant69]

7. No man can serve two masters

I think he's a good guy, probably, but hamstrung by his desire to be in both worlds at once.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[global1]

4. Sue????? You've Got To Be Kidding - Impeachment More Like It....nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. All talk, never any action. A lawsuit will NEVER happen.

If Congress is serious about holding that psycho responsible for his actions, they should IMPEACH, INDICT and IMPRISON him!

[ProfessorGAC]

6. The President, Under The Constitution. . .

. . .has no option other than to ENFORCE the laws that have been passed, especially if he signs them. There are no other options. Veto or sign. Then, enforce if passed. That's it.

The president has NO option as to whether to enforce laws or not. He can lobby congress to change laws that the exec finds unenforceable or unpalletable. But, that's it!
The Professor

[mopinko]

8. don't need no stinkin' legislation, arlen

you got impeachment. you remember impeachment. pretend he got a blow job, and do it. (yes, i know it starts in the other house. i think by now arlen has a few friends over there.)

[DistressedAmerican]

9. Suprised I'm The First To Nominate This Post.

We'll see if it comes to anything. But, It sure sounds positive!

[stepnw1f]

12. I Agree (nt)

[Swamp Rat]

14. this makes 3

:)

[DistressedAmerican]

17. DUDER! That IS A GREAT Newbie You've Got There!

Beautifully executed Bushatan!

Big Props!:toast:

[stepnw1f]

10. This is a Weather a Political Balloon

people should support. Every action against this admin must be supported.

[wisteria]

11. More grandstanding by Specter that will result in a "compromise"

sure to benefit the administration and allow them to continue doing what there doing and make it look like Specter actually did something. In other words- bullsh*t.

[quiet.american]

16. What you said. n/t

[MissWaverly]

22. I waiting for Arlen to pass a law making

all signing statements legal.

[msongs]

13. there is no "signing statement" in the constutution -impeach/convict

and if you have found one, please tell us where it is so we may read it ourselves.

it is NOT there, bush is committing a crime against the nation.

Msongs

listen to our song demos!
www.msongs.com/msongsdemos.htm

[FuzzyDicePHL]

15. Will never happen

Specter is all noise and swagger. He's not got the stones to do anything like sue over the signing statements. :puke:

[gordianot]

21. Correct, he always backs down

[BlueJac]

18. Just throw the bum "Bush" out!!.....

and a couple of his buddies too.

[originalpckelly]

19. These signing statements are like "Presidential Decrees"

issued by the President of Germany during the Weimar Republic (i.e. the one Hitler managed to gain absolute control of Germany under.) This lack of a check upon the executive has already lead to some abuses. Mainly the detainee treatment act of 2005, "McCain Amendment," in which the President said the people being tortured had no right to stop it. Literally, that is what a "private right of action" means.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. I'll believe it when I see it.

These signing statements sounds like the reverse of the line item veto.

Son of a bitch made his own fucking law. Bait and swtich.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

23. Did Specter Say Something? nt