Specter Bill To Sue Bush For Use of Signing Statements

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Arlen Specter’s wiretapping bill may leave a lot to be desired, but the senator from Pennsylvania has the right idea when it comes to presidential signing statements. He’s bringing it on — with a bill to sue George W. Bush. “We will submit legislation to the United States Senate,” Specter said on the Senate floor, “which will…authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president’s acts declared unconstitutional.”

This on the same day, Monday, that an American Bar Association task force found Bush’s use of the signing statements — interpreting laws as he sees fit rather than as Congress plainly intends — “contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers.”

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

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