ABA: Bush Signing Statements Violate Constitution

(Read the rest of the article here - http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,205205,00.html ) :

"ABA: Bush Signing Statements Violate Constitution

WASHINGTON — President Bush's penchant for writing exceptions to laws he has just signed violates the Constitution, an American Bar Association task force says in a report highly critical of the practice.

The ABA group, which includes a one-time FBI director and former federal appeals court judge, said the president has overstepped his authority in attaching challenges to hundreds of new laws."

…..

" "This report raises serious concerns crucial to the survival of our democracy," said the ABA's president, Michael Greco. "If left unchecked, the president's practice does grave harm to the separation of powers doctrine, and the system of checks and balances that have sustained our democracy for more than two centuries." "

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Jul24/0,4…tements,00.html

"Specter Prepping Bill to Sue Bush
Monday, July 24, 2006
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON — A powerful Republican committee chairman who has led the fight against President Bush's signing statements said Monday he would have a bill ready by the end of the week allowing Congress to sue him in federal court.

"We will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will…authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president's acts declared unconstitutional,"Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said on the Senate floor.

Specter's announcement came the same day that an American Bar Association task force concluded that by attaching conditions to legislation, the president has sidestepped his constitutional duty to either sign a bill, veto it, or take no action."

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It would be nice - if indeed this bill does get sent up for a vote - if everyone would be standing by to inundate their Reps with calls and FAX'es to support it.

Because if we don't apply serious pressure on our end, it'll never pass. Pete