So how did Bush do a pocket veto when Congress was in session?

[Ravy]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1585

U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 7 states:

"... If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law. "

[LynnTheDem]

1. The Decider has Decided when Congress is in session is his Decision.

And to Decide against The Decider is treason, ya know.

[hack89]

2. The bill came from the House

and the House, I believe, is not in session - just the Senate. If the House is not in session then the bill cannot be returned. Don't know all the details but I suspect that it is not a clear cut issue.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Not really

Congress must be in session, and whether the House is or not, since the Senate is, Congress is in session.

[hack89]

10. You and I can believe what we want

it is what the vast body of Constitutional law says that matters. I don't know the true answer, I just suspect that it is more complicated than most here are willing to accept.

[Bandit]

17. And how do you suppose Bush*'s Extreme Court will rule?

While Bush* or any Republican for that matter is acting as pResident they will get their way with this Congress we currently have.

[hack89]

18. Beats me nt

[rocktivity]

11. DING DING DING! Bitwit1234, you're our grand prize winner!

(W)hether the House is or not, since the Senate is, Congress is in session.
Congress is MADE UP of the Senate and House of Representatives. When NEITHER of them is not in session, only then is Congress not in session.

:patriot:
rocknation

[hack89]

14. The bill has to go to the House

the House is not is session.

If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it.

[rocktivity]

19. He can't return it to the House if it's not in session. He either has to sign it or return it.

Talk about fixing the facts to fit the policy.

:headbang:
rocknation

[hack89]

20. Or he pocket vetos it

which is what he can do if the house is not in session

[hack89]

13. I don't think so

Art 1, Section 7 of the Constitution:

If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it.

[Aviation Pro]

3. Illegally, of course....

...he must have some towering minds giving him legal counsel. Ah, well, one more charge to be filed against the little motherfucker when he gets tossed out of the White House.

[lonestarnot]

8. Since when did the fuckwad become concerned with legalities?

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Here's the kicker: Will Congress agree there has been an effective and legal

veto or will it pronounce the bill as enacted law and ask for it to be recorded into the U.S.C.A.?

[Ravy]

5. Maybe they will show some fight on this.

One can always hope.

I haven't seen much of an uproar about it. The gov site said the pocket veto went into effect on Dec 28th, but the article I saw about it (and there are very few articles) said mignight tonight.

[tularetom]

7. It's like that tree that falls in the forest

If nobody objects to the douchebag's veto, it ain't illegal.

[alfredo]

21. Just like Nixon, if the president does it, it is legal.

[onenote]

9. Everything you would ever want to know about this issue: here

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30909.pdf

[Geoff R. Casavant]

16. Thanks for this link!

Fascinating reading and excellent scholarship.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. You might want to read one of his 800 signing statements. There's probably one for this.

The decider does whatever he wants to do. The CONSTITUTION is "Nothing but a G-d damn piece of paper." Remember?

[old guy]

15. If * is allowed to do this,

I see no reason for any of them to come back from holiday as they will have proved to us to be worthless. This is a slap in the face to all the people and should not be left to stand. Just saying.

[Horse with no Name]

22. Who is going to stop him?

I mean, seriously?
Are they going to send a strongly worded letter?
Until Congress asserts itself as an EQUAL branch of government, then Bush will continue to treat them as unequal.