FEINGOLD Introduces Bill To Keep Bush From "Secretly" Destroying Country More Than He Already Has

[kpete]

FEINGOLD Introduces Bill To Keep Bush From "Secretly" Destroying Country More Than He Already Has

Senator introduces bill to ban practice allowing Bush to secretly change meaning of laws
Nick Juliano
Published: Wednesday September 17, 2008

The Bush administration's practice of relying on classified legal "opinions" from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Council to reinterpret laws to mean whatever the president needs them to mean has produced such gems as "extraordinary rendition" and "enhanced interrogation."

With George W. Bush just a few short months from returning to his Texas ranch full time, two Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation that would prevent the White House's next occupant from engaging in similar efforts to rewrite the law.

“This administration has used OLC opinions to develop a secret set of binding rules that fly in the face of laws passed by Congress on matters ranging from torture to warrantless wiretapping,” Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) said in a news release. “By hiding these opinions from view, the administration prevents Congress from restoring the rule of law through oversight or legislation. This bill represents an important step toward curbing secret law and restoring the balance of power between the White House and Congress.”

Feingold, who has been among the fiercest critics of the administration's power grabs, introduced the OLC Reporting Act in the Senate, with Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) introducing companion legislation in the House. It's unlikely the bill will be passed this year -- and even if it was, Bush would almost certainly veto it -- but the legislation provides a starting point for the next Congress to begin undoing Bush's damage.

more at:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Bill_would_end_Bush_administrations_secret_0917.html

[rfranklin]

1. Future abuse could be prevented by current impeachment...

If you wilfully allow the criminal to escape it proves to others that there is no penalty for breaking the law.

[Muttocracy]

4. I wish we had enough votes in the Senate :(

[jtrockville]

2. OLCRA is just a new law for the next administration to ignore

We need CONSEQUENCES. Nothing more, nothing less!

[Vincardog]

3. IF they refuse to IMPEACH try convict and imprison these thugs another symbolic motion

doesn't mean shit.

[EFerrari]

6. Even Conyers pointed that out yesterday, calling his HJC session

"a dog and pony hearing".

[yurbud]

5. Bush response: "I'd send him to Gitmo if'n his name didn't say he could find gold kind'r like a

leper-con. I'll git Condi to grab him and make him find gold fur me."

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. LOL!!!

[DeepBlueC]

8. good for her

A precedent established is a very dangerous thing.

[Winterblues]

9. Now that the cows are gone let's make sure that barn dooor is shut..

Way to go Democrats...I wonder if they enjoy being the laughingstock they have become..

[Cleita]

11. Good way to put it. n/t

[Solly Mack]

10. Hey!That next president better watch out! Cause Congress is serious!

That next president isn't going to be above the law. That next president won't be breaking the law like Bush. Nosiree Bob! We got rules! We got laws! And that next president is gonna follow them!