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Bush Rejects Congressional Restriction on Controlling Iraqi Oil

HeadlineOct 15, 2008

President Bush has reasserted his administration’s refusal to abide by a congressional restriction on US attempts to control Iraq’s oil. On Tuesday, Bush issued a new signing statement that would allow him to ignore parts of the new military authorization act he signed into law. The New York Times reports Bush objected to one section of the bill barring attempts “to exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq.” Bush has declared similar exemptions to identical language within previous military authorization bills. In another signing statement, Bush declared the right to ignore sections of a bill meant to protect oversight at federal agencies. Bush rejected a provision that would allow inspectors general the right to their own counsel instead of politically appointed agency attorneys. He also rejected a section that would require the White House to tell lawmakers what each inspector general said about the administration’s budget proposals for their offices. Bush has issued more than 1,100 signing statements — nearly double all previous presidents combined.

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