More Chimpy signing statements

[deminks]

Although not as blatant as the India Nuke Deal signing statement, they are interesting:

President's Statement on Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061220-5.html

The executive branch shall construe provisions of the Act, including section 406(c)(2) in Division A and section 203(b) in Division B, that call for executive branch officials to submit legislative recommendations to the Congress, in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and to recommend for congressional consideration such measures as the President shall judge necessary and expedient.

The executive branch shall construe as advisory provisions of the Act that purport to require concurrence of State officials as a precondition to execution of the laws, including section 415(b) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 as amended by section 207 in Division C and section 311(d) in Division C, as is consistent with the Constitution's vesting in the President of the executive power and the duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

The executive branch shall construe provisions of the Act, including section 4005(b) in Division D and section 213A(f) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act as amended by section 5002 in Division D, that purport to make consultation with committees of Congress a precondition to execution of the law, to call for but not mandate such consultation, as is
consistent with the Constitution's provisions concerning the separate powers of the Congress to legislate and the President to execute the laws.

President's Statement on H.R. 6407, the "Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act"

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061220-6.html

The executive branch shall construe subsections 202(a) and 502(a) of title 39, as enacted by subsections 501(a) and 601(a) of the Act, which purport to limit the qualifications of the pool of persons from whom the President may select appointees in a manner that rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the positions, in a manner consistent with the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. The executive branch shall also construe as advisory the purported deadline in subsection 605(c) for the making of an appointment, as is consistent with the Appointments Clause.

The executive branch shall construe subsection 404(c) of title 39, as enacted by subsection 1010(e) of the Act, which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.

My favorite line that appears in almost every statement is 'the executive branch shall construe as advisory ...

Smirky, you little unitary executive, you.

[rurallib]

1. I used to write my congresscritter (Jim Leach - he sucked)

about once a week to ask him what use congress was if Bush just made up signing statements to make his own laws. Got one response early but never after that. Leach finally got beat.