Obama issues first signing statement

**OnePimpTiger** · 03-12-2009, 10:48 AM

Just days after issuing a directive that has the potential to limit the impact of his predecessor’s prolific use of presidential signing statements, President Obama issued his first statement setting forth his administration’s “constitutional concerns” with a federal law.

In a two-page memo that accompanied his signing of the $410 billion spending bill Wednesday, Obama delineated five areas where the Department of Justice has advised him of potential constitutional problems with the bill – limits on negotiating with foreign governments or organizations foreign affairs, authority to control the military, communications with Congress, requirements to seek approval from congressional committees, and instructions for submitting budget requests to Congress.

The signing statement itself is newsworthy, noting potential Constitutional problems with the stimulus package. But, the whole business of the President expressing concerns over the Constitutionality (if it wasn't a word, it is now) of legislation proposed by Congress seems to me like spitting on the Constitution and then stepping on it and rubbing it in real good. And that's not just aimed at Obama or Democrats for those of you who were about to yell at me for it.