King George Issues Another Signing Statement
King George is at it again. He has issued another signing statement declaring himself above the law.
As a response (although belately) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) botched response to Hurricane Katrina, the United States Congress passed legislation (which George W. Bush signed into law) that requires minimum qualifications for all future heads of FEMA.
Under the new law, the President of the United States must nominate a candidate to head FEMA, who has "a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management" and "not less than five years of executive leadership."
In other words, instead of choosing someone who worked for the International Arabian Horses Association, the President must nominate someone with experience in emergency management, to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency (imagine that)!
However, just HOURS after signing that legislation into law, Bush issued a signing statement in which he said he was not obligated to abide by the new law! His excuse for declaring himself above that law? He claims the law "purports to limit the qualifications of the pool of persons from whom the president may select the appointee in a manner that rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office."
In other words, he wants to be able to choose from his vast list of cronies and reward those who've helped put money in his pockets. He doesn't care if they have experience in emergency management or not. The only experience required is being faithful and loyal to him.
Bush cites authority to bypass FEMA law
