President Obama broke his own five-day rule when he signed the Recovery Act in Denver. White House photo, Pete Souza
Obama fails transparency test with Recovery Act
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the $787 billion stimulus bill) one day after it was presented to him by Congress, and four days after it passed.
Just as he did with the Lilly Ledbetter Act and the SCHIP expansion, Obama broke is promise to post bills online for five days before he signs them. Perhaps the president should have extended his vacation.
For review, in September 2008, Obama told a crowd in Green Bay, WI:
When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as President, you will have five days to look online and find out what’s in it before I sign it.
His campaign Web site said:
Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.
And the White House’s blog boasted on inauguration day:
One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.
Did he ever intend to keep this promise?
Sources:
The White House, Feb. 17, 2009
Library of Congress
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Washington Post, Sept. 22, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama Speaks at Campaign Event in Green Bay, Wisconsin
BarackObama.com
White House Blog, Jan. 20, 2009
