This is a class blog for the students of POLSCI 426: Congressional Politics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Bush defies Congress, and can apparently edit security reports

"WASHINGTON -
President Bush, again defying Congress, says he has the power to edit the
Homeland Security Department's reports about whether it obeys privacy rules while handling background checks, ID cards and watchlists.

In the law Bush signed Wednesday, Congress stated no one but the privacy officer could alter, delay or prohibit the mandatory annual report on Homeland Security department activities that affect privacy, including complaints.

But Bush, in a signing statement attached to the agency's 2007 spending bill, said he will interpret that section "in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch."

The American Bar Association and members of Congress have said Bush uses signing statements excessively as a way to expand his power."

I'm not sure what he's doing is completely legal, but I suppose if he's the head of the executive branch and thus in charge of everyone else of that branch he can "force" the guy to change his reports. But even then that's pretty borderline for legality but with it inching towards not being legal. I'm much too tired to figure out anything further then this.

No comments:

Blog Archive