Democrats irked by president’s signing statement

Obama criticized George W. Bush for doing the same

July 22, 2009|Anne Flaherty, Associated Press

WASHINGTON - President Obama has irked close allies in Congress by declaring he has the right to ignore legislation on constitutional grounds after having criticized George W. Bush for doing the same.

Four senior House Democrats said yesterday they were “surprised’’ and “chagrined’’ by Obama’s declaration in June that he doesn’t have to comply with provisions in a war spending bill that puts conditions on aid provided to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

In a signing statement accompanying the $106 billion bill, Obama said he wouldn’t allow the legislation to interfere with his authority as president to conduct foreign policy and negotiate with other governments. Earlier in his six-month-old administration, Obama issued a similar statement regarding provisions in a $410 billion omnibus spending bill. He also included qualifying remarks when signing legislation that established commissions to govern public lands in New York, investigate the financial crisis, and celebrate Ronald Reagan’s birthday.

“During the previous administration, all of us were critical of [Bush’s] assertion that he could pick and choose which aspects of congressional statutes he was required to enforce,’’ the Democrats wrote in their letter to Obama. “We were therefore chagrined to see you appear to express a similar attitude.’’

The letter was signed by Representatives David Obey of Wisconsin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, as well as Nita Lowey and Gregory Meeks, both of New York, who chair subcommittees on those panels.

Obey and Frank in particular are needed by Obama to push through Congress key pieces of his agenda, including a healthcare overhaul and financial oversight reform.

The White House said yesterday the administration plans to implement the provisions of the bill and suggested that Obama’s signing statement was aimed more at defending the president’s executive powers than skirting the law.

“The president has also already made it clear that he will not ignore statutory obligations on the basis of policy disagreements and will reserve signing statements for legislation that raises clearly identified constitutional concerns,’’ White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said in a statement.

Bush issued a record number of signing statements while in office as he sparred with Democrats on such issues as the war in Iraq. Democrats, including Obama, sharply criticized Bush as overstepping his bounds as president, contending that Bush used such statements to expand his power, particularly on national security, by ignoring the intent or certain provisions of bills properly passed by Congress.