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[tinypianos]

Obama Issues Signing Statement On War Spending Bill

Comments

[layweed]

Wow I didn't even know they had that type of power.

[jmintmilano]

There is a lot of disagreement to whether signing statements are legal or not.

[layweed]

At first glance it sounds almost like it's a line-item veto for general legislation. I guess you could argue that since the President is in charge of foreign policy he shouldn't be too restricted by the Legislative Branch but um, I dunno. =\

[excusemesenator]

THEY DON'T.

[aceface905]

That doesn't sound like he's going to ignore it; just that he disagrees with it. That said, I might be misinterpreting it. If I weren't heading out the door I'd try and compare it to a Bush signing statement?

[ladypolitik]

I tend to be suspicious toward anything concerning non-diplomatic elements of US foreign policy, so consider my 'brows freshly furrowed.

[scottrossi]

[worldmage]

I don't like the issues he's taking a stand on (I think he SHOULD do those things), but I do see his point. Congress seems to be trying to direct foreign policy through legislation, which they're not supposed to do; it looks to me like a power grab by Congress.

OTOH, I don't see the point of the signing statements, tbh. He can just ignore the provisions since they're probably unconstitutional anyway. If Congress tries to enforce them they'll just get slapped down by SCOTUS, assuming it even gets that far.