Signing off on democracy
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Re “Bush’s hedge on bill renews debate over ‘signing statements,’ ” Feb. 1
The president’s continued use of signing statements ought to be alarming. Signing statements enlarge the powers of the executive branch and diminish those of the legislative branch. The voice of the governed is selectively overridden or ignored. No fervent reaction from Congress seems forthcoming; the president claims he is “merely” protecting the constitutional prerogatives of the chief executive. But when the chief executive can do as he wishes and the legislative branch raises no more than an eyebrow, I fail to see that we have a government that is responsive to the will of the people.
John Lynn
Santa Barbara
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