The law is the law

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 | 2 a.m.

In signing the defense spending bill, President Bush declared he would “construe” the bill to fit with his views, which means he will ignore legislation that Congress legally passed.

That, in Bush’s view, is his right under the Constitution, but that is not a view that has any support outside of his administration. Unfortunately, it has become a common practice for Bush to sign a bill and then submit what is called a signing statement, which tells federal agencies how to — or not to — apply the law.

In the signing statement he issued with the defense spending bill, Bush noted his objection to a handful of provisions, including one that would create a presidential commission to investigate fraud, waste and other wrongdoing by military contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. The commission is modeled on one created at the start of World War II. Harry Truman, then a U.S. senator, led that commission’s successful efforts to ferret out waste and protect taxpayer money.

Considering the billions spent on the war on terror, it would only make sense to have a presidential commission trying to protect taxpayer dollars.

Bush, however, doesn’t see things that way and said the provision “could inhibit the president’s ability to carry out his constitutional obligations,” including that of commander in chief.

A White House spokeswoman said the president was concerned because the commission, under the law, would have the power to request and receive information from the Pentagon and the Justice Department. The White House sees that as a potential violation of the Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine.

Rubbish. That is merely a ruse. The Bush administration simply does not want to release any information or open itself up to scrutiny. And by acting in the manner he has, Bush is trampling on the Constitution.

As any student in Civics 101 could tell him, Congress has the authority to make the laws, and he has the obligation to uphold them. Bush, though, has shown nothing but contempt for the Constitution and the Congress, and by doing so, he is showing his contempt for the American people.