Signing Statements

[BobKamman]

The Senate and House committees that produce the American Rescue Plan Act have dozens of lawyers on staff who try to make sure that laws are Constitutional, don’t conflict with other laws, and mean what they say. But the President has lawyers on his staff, also, who review the legislation for potential problems. That is what is happening right now. In many cases, the President will sign the bill, but with a “signing statement” that elaborates on whether and how it will be interpreted and enforced.

President George W. Bush issued 160 signing statements, some of which were controversial. President Obama did 37, and President Trump 70.

Congress and the courts may not pay much attention to signing statements, but the people at IRS will if they want to keep their jobs. That’s why we aren’t hearing much from them, yet.

Here is more on signing statements:

https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/presidentialsigningstatements