Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
Once again, the Volokh Conspiracy has an interesting piece tracking the controversial practice of signing statements when the President signs a bill.
I personally did not find the practice either unconstitutional or all that big a deal; but the ABA in 2006 decried the practice as "contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers."
To date, President Obama has now made four such statements (compared to one for the Bush administration during the same period). While there was considerable criticism of the Bush Administration for this practice, the same sources are now strangely silent.
I personally did not find the practice either unconstitutional or all that big a deal; but the ABA in 2006 decried the practice as "contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers."
To date, President Obama has now made four such statements (compared to one for the Bush administration during the same period). While there was considerable criticism of the Bush Administration for this practice, the same sources are now strangely silent.