Even Republicans are appalled: GOP chairman to investigate Bush’s claim he can ignore Congress

Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, told the Boston Globe that he will hold an oversight hearing into President Bush’s use of so-called “signing statements” by bypass 750 laws.

Speaking to reporter Charlie Savage, who broke the story, Specter said:

There is some need for some oversight by Congress to assert its authority here. What's the point of having a statute if . . . the president can cherry-pick what he likes and what he doesn't like.

The hearing will be held next month.

Speaking about Bush, Specter noted:

He put a signing statement on the Patriot Act. He put a signing statement on the torture issue. It's a very blatant encroachment on [Congress's constitutional] powers. If he doesn't like the bill, let him veto it.