Senators will move ahead with wartime commission despite *

[babylonsister]

Senators will move ahead with wartime commission
January 29, 2008 - 11:21PM
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers say they will push ahead with a presidential commission designed to root out waste and fraud in military contracts despite President Bush’s concerns that it could usurp his authority.

Bush signed into law on Monday a wide-ranging defense bill that includes instructions to create a commission to investigate defense contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is modeled after a similar commission that was headed by Harry Truman in the 1940s to uncover abuse in military contracts during World War II.

Along with his signature, Bush singled out the commission and three other provisions that could “purport to impose requirements that could inhibit the president’s ability to carry out his constitutional obligations.”

A White House spokeswoman said parts of the contracting provision could be read to require the Justice Department to report whether or not they are prosecuting individuals.“Under longstanding constitutional principles, the executive branch may protect from disclosure certain sensitive information, including national security information, as well as information about decisions whether to file criminal charges,” the spokeswoman, Jeanie Mamo, said late Tuesday. “The signing statement provides notice that the commission’s requests for information, if they are too broad, may run afoul of the Constitution.”

Such “signing statements” are controversial tools in which the president signs a bill into law but notes portions he may ignore.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush can’t just pick and choose.
“His job, under the Constitution, is to faithfully execute the law — every part of it — and I expect him to do just that,” she said.

Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who sponsored the military contracting provision with fellow Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, said Congress intends to move forward with setting up an eight-member commission.

more...

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/commission_18417___article.html/president_iraq.html

[Mountainman]

1. Another circus for the masses I guess. The injustice dept is in the hands of *.

One thing you have to hand to Bush. His gang knows how to get away with everything.

History will write about the shit this administration pulled and looking back we will say, too bad we couldn't do anything about it.

[Winterblues]

2. Sorry but line item vetos were ruled unconstitutional by Extreme Court

These sort of signing statements are nothing more than a line item veto and that is not legal.....Either veto the entire bill or sign the entire bill there is no in between...