Bar group will review Bush's legal challenges

By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 4, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The board of governors of the American Bar Association
voted unanimously yesterday to investigate whether President Bush has
exceeded his constitutional authority in reserving the right to
ignore more than 750 laws that have been enacted since he took office.

Meeting in New Orleans, the board of governors for the world's
largest association of legal professionals approved the creation of
an all-star legal panel with a number of members from both political
parties.

They include a former federal appeals court chief judge, a former FBI
director, and several prominent scholars -- to evaluate Bush's
assertions that he has the power to ignore laws that conflict with
his interpretation of the Constitution.

Bush has appended statements to new laws when he signs them, noting
which provisions he believes interfere with his powers.

Among the laws Bush has challenged are the ban on torturing
detainees, oversight provisions in the USA Patriot Act, and
``whistle-blower" protections for federal employees.

The challenges also have included safeguards against political
interference in taxpayer-funded research.

Bush has challenged more laws than all previous presidents combined.

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http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/06/04/