Statement by the President: "... I will sign (CFR) into law."

Office of the Press Secretary ^ | March 20, 2002 | George W. Bush

[erk]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2002

Statement by the President

Like many Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, I support common-sense reforms to end abuses in our campaign finance system.  The reforms passed today, while flawed in some areas, still improve the current system overall, and I will sign them into law.

The legislation makes some important progress on the timeliness of disclosure, individual contribution limits, and banning soft money from corporations and labor unions, but it does present some legitimate constitutional questions.  I continue to believe the best reform is full and timely disclosure of campaign contributions.

###

---

Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020320-21.html

[gov_bean_ counter]

Wars are financed with operations and maintenance funds which have an obligation life of one year. Look it up, Treasury fund code 21 NA FY 2020. In fact one of the threats being made against Bush is to fail to fund war operations in next years O&M appropriation.

[jwalsh07]

I'm a nutcase and you're arguing that the War on Terrorism is illegal and unconetituional? A clue wouldn't help your sorry behind one bit.

[DJ88]

"They used to say Clinton was pornographic; but it appears his predessor is more so.

Lesson #1: When trying to make a legitimate argument, please use the dictionary.

[ppaul]

Well, I guess you'll vote for Howard Phillips, then.

I think we all agree that would be a wasted vote - but not because Phillips wouldn't be a good president. Third parties, historically, just don't win. But I can guarantee you this - Phillips would never sign such a bill into law. He's a man of principles that you can count on. You can disagree with his views, but you cannot fault him for being unprincipled. And, signing this bill was unprincipled.

[sneakypete]

Bush is the one to enforce the laws and he can simply state that those parts that are not constitutional will not be enforced.

Ok,I can see your "no real harm" point,but let me ask you this,ok? What happens when Bubbette! is president in 2004,and she decides it WILL be enforced. How clever or harmless will this Bubba-2 decision be then? Will you still approve of it?

[erk]

The words are important because they give us a way around them.

See comment #253 for some words that may give Bush a way around them. Notice he didn't say he would sign the bill.

[DJ88]

I don't know what would have to be disclosed. I'm still tapping my fingers. *grins*

[Buckeroo]

Are you bellowing USC United States Code of Law? Blah, blah blah. I am discussing a matter over the law. It is called the Constitution. Something that most of you fine folks either forgot or never learned.

[TLBSHOW]

Good for you I don't apologize either.

[DJ88]

Are you saying he didn't say the CFR Bill itself? Hmmm.

[sneakypete]

The War on Terrorism's going to end, right?

Sure it will. At about the same time the so-called War on Drugs ends. The third Tuesday of "Never".

[DJ88]

Maybe that's why he wants SCOTUS to strike it down. So it will be already ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL. By the highest court in the land.

[ppaul]

Maybe that's why he wants SCOTUS to strike it down. So it will be already ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL. By the highest court in the land.

Hey, they did GWB right the first time around, eh?

[Cinnamon Girl]

This is very DISAPPOINTING. It would have been such a great moment, like Pacino telling off the whole school at the end of "Scent of a Woman" if President Bush had said "there's NO WAY I'm signing this piece of trash!"

This bothers me.

[concerned about politics]

Phillips would never sign such a bill into law.

Yes, but he would also never be president, so what does it matter? My dog wouldn't sign either. She can't write!
I say blame Gepfart and MaCain for the back stabbing, and support Bush and hope this all works out. The president shouldn't be discounted for an issue American voters care so little about. It won't matter at the polls.
The next step is the court, and even liberal organizations are ready to fight it.

[Buckeroo]

You have allowed yourself to be trapped in the mystery of unconstitutional government operations that oppose the creation methods of the same. You agree with mere law; you regard the Constitution as a corrupt method of controlling the law. Your advocacy is the reason why we have Bush ready to sign into law methods to usurp the Constitution.

[gov_bean_ counter]

You need to buy a clue. You used the term appropriated or appropriation. I defined the term for you in it's application to fiscal law. One feeds the other.

[ppaul]

Yes, but he would also never be president, so what does it matter?

Well, at least you've got a point there.

[erk]

Yeah, read the press release again. But then again, maybe I'm just looking for a job working for Ari.

[ppaul]

This is very DISAPPOINTING. It would have been such a great moment, like Pacino telling off the whole school at the end of "Scent of a Woman" if President Bush had said "there's NO WAY I'm signing this piece of trash!" This bothers me.

And, well it should.
It should bother all of us.