Obama signing statement and ‘presidentialism’

President Barack Obama so little liked the Congress’ omnibus bill that not only did he sign it in private, he issued his first presidential signing statement.

Obama had this to say in his statement:

Numerous provisions of the legislation purport to condition the authority of officers to spend or reallocate funds on the approval of congressional committees. These are impermissible forms of legislative aggrandizement in the execution of the laws other than by enactment of statutes. Therefore, although my Administration will notify the relevant committees before taking the specified actions, and will accord the recommendations of such committees all appropriate and serious consideration, spending decisions shall not be treated as dependent on the approval of congressional committees.

To me, rather than railing against Congressional pork, or else nobly defending the constitution, he’s railing against Congress trying to hamstring the office of the President, in most these cases.

The foreign policy purse-string controlling MIGHT have constitutional issues. The one on international commanders of U.S. troops in peacekeeping forces maybe does.

The rest, specifically the part in the pull quote? Nope.

Read the complete signing statement to judge for yourself.