President Obama Issues Two Signing Statements Relating to H.R. 2346, the "Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009"
On June 24, 2009, President Obama signed H.R. 2346, the "Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009" (P.L. 111-32).
Also on June 24, 2009, the White House Press Office released a document entitled "Statement from the President on signing the Supplemental Appropriations Act." It is available on the White House website. The Office of the Federal Register's (OFR's) Compilation of Presidential Documents has classified the document as a signing statement. See, Daily Comp. Pres. Docs., 2009 DCPD No. 00501 (PDF from the OFR), or Daily Comp. Pres. Docs., 2009 DCPD No. 00501 (HTML text at the OFR). This signing statement is rhetorical and raises no constitutional issues relating to the law to which it pertains.
On June 26, 2009, the White House released a second signing statement for the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009. The full text of the document is available on the White House website and on this website. See, Daily Comp. Pres. Docs., 2009 DCPD No. 00512 (PDF from the OFR), or Daily Comp. Pres. Docs., 2009 DCPD No. 00512 (HTML text at the OFR). This signing statement raises constitutional concerns about five specified provisions of law in P.L. 111-32.
These are, respectively, President Obama's sixth and seventh signing statements. To see Obama's previous signing statements, click here.
President Obama Issues Memorandum Concerning Signing Statements
On March 9, 2009, the White House released a Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on the Subject of Presidential Signing Statements. The full text of the memo is available on the White House website, or in PDF format from the Office of the Federal Register's Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents (DCPD), or in plain text from the DCPD.
The memo directs executive branch departments and agencies to seek the advice of the Attorney General before relying on signing statements issued prior to March 9, 2009, as the basis for disregarding or refusing to comply with any provision of a statute.
The memo also describes legitimate uses of signing statements and sets out principles that the administration will adhere to in order to avoid abusive use of signing statements.
Notable news articles and commentary concerning the memorandum:
New York Times: Obama Looks to Limit Impact of Tactic Bush Used to Sidestep New Laws
Chicago Tribune: Obama Rejects Bush Signing Statements
Washington Post: Obama Pulls Back From Signing Statements
Associated Press: Obama orders review of Bush's signing statements
Boston Globe: Obama rebukes Bush on signing statements
CNN: Obama moves to limit impact of Bush signing statements
CBS News Hotsheet: Maneuvering Room On Signing Statements
US News & World Report: Obama Rolls Back Unconstitutional George W. Bush Signing Statement Policy
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