American Bar Association: Bush violating Constitution

[npincus]

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/24/lawyers.bush.ap/

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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.

The attachments, known as bill-signing statements, say Bush reserves a right to revise, interpret or disregard measures on national security and constitutional grounds.

"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."

[unhappycamper]

1. Just watched part of a CSPAN segment on the Task Force's

press conference. Here's their report:

http://www.abanet.org/op/signingstatements/

[flyarm]

2. it was an incredible press conference on cspan2!! try to see rerun!! n/t

[democrat_patriot]

3. Go ABA! Hopefully they vote to give this 'standing'

Not too bad to be in Hawaii either this year.

[jody]

4. Link below to ABA Report "TASK FORCE ON PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS

http://www.abanet.org/op/signingstatements/aba_final_signing_statements_recommendation-report_7-24-06.pdf

[smacky44]

5. How little attention this thread gets on DU tells me a lot about why

this nation will not be able to survive as the founding fathers intended.

[WilliamPitt]

6. Um...

This is thread #26 on this topic.

Step away from the ledge.

[Connie_Corleone]

7. There's already a thread about this with 31 recommendations.

People here are paying attention to this.