Obama negates Bush signing statements

Charlie Savage, who is the man on signing statements, has a new piece in NYT. Two biggest points are President Obama is telling the agencies not to rely on Bush's statements to interpret law and the final tally on Bush's use of the signing statements is 1,200. Double the amount of the all the rest of the previous presidents combined. Obama also indicates he would use them himself if he found it necessary, but it seems unlikely he intends to abuse them as his predecessor did.

It would be nonsenical to repudiate them altogether, as McCain did during the campaign. There are times when they're useful to avoid the necessity of having to veto an entire bill because of one small constitutionally questionable provision.

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