The House That Roared

After the 8-year signing statement extravaganza that was the Bush presidency, the House of Representatives has reached its limit. And yesterday, it let the Obama administration know in no uncertain terms (429-2) that it was through playing.

Here's what happened:

1. June 24, 2009. President Obama signs the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-32) and issues a signing statement.
2. The signing statement warns that he will not be following parts of the law that he just signed:

   However, provisions of this bill within sections 1110 to 1112 of title XI, and sections 1403 and 1404 of title XIV, would interfere with my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations by directing the Executive to take certain positions in negotiations or discussions with international organizations and foreign governments, or by requiring consultation with the Congress prior to such negotiations or discussions. I will not treat these provisions as limiting my ability to engage in foreign diplomacy or negotiations.

3. The parts of the law with which Obama took issue, dealt with our contributions to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They would have attached policy strings to our funding, and required Treasury reports on the agencies' activities.
4. July 9, 2009. The House takes umbrage. While debating the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (HR 3081), House Amendment 311 is introduced. This amendment authoritatively withholds Treasury funds from any agreement that doesn't follow the originally mandated conditions. The amendment passes by a bipartisan landslide.
5. July 9, 2009. The House passes the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (HR 3081) containing the amendment.

President Obama has said that he would "rarely impose his own interpretation of legislation." So far, he has issued 7 such statements. George W. Bush issued 159, breaking all previous records for subverting the rule of law. One of Bush's most famous signing statements allowed him to ignore provisions banning the use of torture.*

*There should be a link to that particular signing statement here. The Government Printing Office, however, has removed that document from its online database, "Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents." Weird, huh?