Obama signs omnibus one day after it passes
The House passed the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 on Feb. 25, with the Senate following suit March 10. President Obama signed the bill March 11 — one day after it cleared Congress.
Once again, the president is breaking his own rule to post bills online for five days after they are passed for public review. This time, however, the White House is trying to save face by saying it posted the bill online while it was still in Congress:
Today President Obama signed the final version of last year’s budget, as posted here on Friday while it was making its way through Congress …
That’s five days, but not after passage. What if the Senate had changed the bill (it didn’t)?
Remember Obama’s stance on bill transparency up to his first day in office?
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.
Sources:
Washington Post, March 12, 2009
Obama Signs Spending Bill, Vowing to Battle Earmarks
The White House, March 11, 2009
President Obama declares turning point on earmark reform
Washington Post, Sept. 22, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama Speaks at Campaign Event in Green Bay, Wisconsin
BarackObama.com
White House Blog, Jan. 20, 2009
