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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Signing Statements

WASHINGTON (CN) - President Obama has pledged not to issue signing statements, when he signs bills into laws, that would result in ideological or political interpretation or enforcement of the law.

In a Presidential Memorandum, Obama wrote that any signing statements he did make would focus narrowly on his constitutional concerns about the law, and that he would work with congress to avoid the necessity of such statements.

Former President Bush issued many controversial signing statements during his administration that, in some cases, entirely gutted enforcement of laws passed by Congress to which Bush was opposed.

To limit the current impact of such signing statements, President Obama ordered the heads of all agencies and departments to consult with the Attorney General before relying on signing statements issued prior to his memorandum, as the basis for disregarding or otherwise refusing to comply with any provision of a statute.

Click the document icon on the front page for details and links to the regulations. The document icon under the "Scientific Integrity, Iran, Stem Cells & More" heading leads to other new regulations.

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