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Specter Will Hold Hearing on Bush’s ‘Signing Statements’

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Posted on May 4, 2006

The Republican senator announced the move in the wake of news that Bush used “signing statements” to assert his supposed right to circumvent more than 750 laws passed over the last five years.
Legal scholars say the breadth of Bush’s use of ‘signing statements’ is unprecedented.


Boston Globe:

WASHINGTON—The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, accusing the White House of a “very blatant encroachment” on congressional authority, said yesterday he will hold an oversight hearing into President Bush’s assertion that he has the power to bypass more than 750 laws enacted over the past five years.

‘‘There is some need for some oversight by Congress to assert its authority here,” Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said in an interview. ‘‘What’s the point of having a statute if . . . the president can cherry-pick what he likes and what he doesn’t like?”

Specter said he plans to hold the hearing in June. He said he intends to call administration officials to explain and defend the president’s claims of authority, as well to invite constitutional scholars to testify on whether Bush has overstepped the boundaries of his power.

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By faith, May 5, 2006 at 10:54 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

It is astonishing that the leader of the free world, manifests a personal value system that allows him to circumvent the letter and spirit of the laws enacted by Congress.

It is tragic that such a leader refuses to acknowledge those mistakes that have led to serious consequences in terms of injury, deaths, devastation, principles, and financial stability effecting not only this country, but other nations. The fact that the leader of the free world and cohort, refuses to go before the entire nation of people represented (and additionally, the global community), in an act of contrition, once confronted with facts that decisions he has made are in error, gives pause.  What manner of person is it that causes so much ill will? Who creates such havoc yet, represents this great nation. Why is there not an outright revolt against such authority?  The leadership of a nation represents the will of the people.  Do we, as Americans, really want our value system to be interpreted by other societies as a society based on malevolence, power used for aggression, and lack of truth or fairness.  I don’t think so.

We must find our voice and speak against this administration’s policies.  We must remind our leaders, in the White House and in Congress that their duty is to represent and speak for the people.  The will of the people.  I encourage eveyone to shun news reporters, including their papers and programs who refuse to be objective and present both sides, but base their articles soley and accordingly to the bottom line of the publication -where the money comes from.  Let’s oust representatives who do not speak truth, and who misunderstand what true principle represents.

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By average joe, May 5, 2006 at 5:33 am Link to this comment
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How much longer are we going to allow/permit this administration to go on? It’s time to say enough and remove them from office and with them any lingering odor of their existence.

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