by D. Cupples | Apparently, President Bush is disenchanted with some provisions in the 2008 Defense Authorization Act (which he signed), so he has issued another one of his "signing statements." Some people interpret such statements as signals to executive agencies that they should not be overly worried about upholding their constitutional duties to execute or enforce those parts of the laws that Bush doesn't like.
Congressional Quarterly (via Think Progress) reports on provisions that President Bush seems averse to enforcing:
"President Bush yesterday signed the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act after initially rejecting Congress’s first version because it would have allegedly opened the Iraqi government to “expensive lawsuits.”
"Even though he forced Congress to change its original bill, Bush’s signature yesterday came with a little-noticed signing statement, claiming that provisions in the law “could inhibit the President’s ability to carry out his constitutional obligations.” CQ reports on the provisions Bush plans to disregard:
'One such provision sets up a commission to probe contracting fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another expands protections for whistleblowers who work for government contractors. A third requires that U.S. intelligence agencies promptly respond to congressional requests for documents. And a fourth bars funding for permanent bases in Iraq and for any action that exercises U.S. control over Iraq’s oil money.'" (Think Progress citing Congressional Quarterly)
President Bush has made it obvious for quite some time that he wants U.S. forces to stay in Iraq long term -- despite objections that Congress and a majority of Americans may have.
Given that we taxpayers are paying high prices (even to honest contractors) -- and given that contractor waste and fraud are common -- this is no time to go easy on contractors or fail to make things easier for the whistle blowers who seek to stop fraudulent contractors.
Yet, that's what our President seems interested in doing. No one who analyzes public policy in logical and practical terms truly grasps why President Bush takes such positions.
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* High Cost of Government Contractors
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