Senator Specter Preparing Bill that will Allow Congress to Sue President over his Misuse of Presidential Signing Statements

Senator Specter Readies Bill to Sue Bush
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer, Jul 25

WASHINGTON - A powerful Republican committee chairman who has led the fight against President Bush's signing statements said Monday he would have a bill ready by the end of the week allowing Congress to sue him in federal court.

"We will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will...authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president's acts declared unconstitutional," Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said on the Senate floor.

Specter's announcement came the same day that an American Bar Association task force concluded that by attaching conditions to legislation, the president has sidestepped his constitutional duty to either sign a bill, veto it, or take no action.

Bush has issued at least 750 signing statements during his presidency, reserving the right to revise, interpret or disregard laws on national security and constitutional grounds.

To read more of this article, click here.

US News and World Report Article, "Bar association task force urges Congress to push for judicial review of Bush signing statements" (7/21/06)

ABA Recommendation of TASK FORCE ON PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS AND THE SEPARATION OF POWERS DOCTRINE

More information from the ABA on the Task Force on Presidential Signing Statements and the Separation of Powers Doctrine