President Obama Issues “Signing Statement” Indicating He Won’t Abide by Provision in Budget Bill

[tekisui]

Source: ABC

In a statement issued Friday night, President Obama took issue with some provisions in the budget bill – and in one case simply says he will not abide by it.

Last week the White House and congressional Democrats and Republicans were involved in intense negotiations over not only the size of the budget for the remainder of the FY2011 budget, and spending cuts within that budget, but also several GOP “riders,” or policy provisions attached to the bill.

One rider – Section 2262 -- de-funds certain White House adviser positions – or “czars.” The president in his signing statement declares that he will not abide by it.

“The President has well-established authority to supervise and oversee the executive branch, and to obtain advice in furtherance of this supervisory authority,” he wrote. “The President also has the prerogative to obtain advice that will assist him in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities, and do so not only from executive branch officials and employees outside the White House, but also from advisers within it. Legislative efforts that significantly impede the President's ability to exercise his supervisory and coordinating authorities or to obtain the views of the appropriate senior advisers violate the separation of powers by undermining the President's ability to exercise his constitutional responsibilities and take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/04/president-obama-issues-signing-statement-indicating-he-wont-abide-by-provision-in-budget-bill.html

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There are also two signing statements on Guantanamo Bay detainees, one on Congress limiting the ability to turn detainees over to other countries and one on Congress preventing trial in criminal courts.

[ruggerson]

1. then he should veto the bill

I don't recall reading in the constitution that Presidents have the authority to pick and choose which parts of congressional legislation they will abide by.

This was wrong when Bush did it and it is wrong today.

[tekisui]

2. I agree. It is de facto line item veto which has been ruled unconstitutional.

[ellenfl]

3. again, signing statements have been around since madison and

bush was wrong in that he abused the privilege, not that he used it. as I see it, repubs objecting to this hoists them on their own petards.

ellen fl