Bush Issues First Signing Statements Since Congress Changed Hands
The Boston Globe's Charlie Savage reported that "President Bush issued his first signing statement since [the 2006 elections], reserving the right to bypass 11 provisions in a military appropriations bill under his executive powers," in an article on Saturday. In the statements, President Bush "challenged several requirements to provide information to congress," as well as limits on the administration's ability to transfer congressionally approved funds to start a different program.
Although the article described the statements as taking "a less aggressive tone" by only referring to objections made in past documents, White House spokesman Tony Fratto says issuing the shorter signing statements are "just easier," and the administration's position "hasn't changed."
ACS released an issue brief by Neil Kinkopf entitled "Signing Statements and the President's Authority to Refuse to Enforce the Law," an "Index of Presidential Signing Statements: 2001-2007" compiled by Neil Kinkopf and Peter Shane, and held a plenary discussion at its 2006 National Convention on "Separation of Powers: Restoring the Balance Among the Branches" that includes a discussion of signing statements.