The New York Times’ Charlie Savage reports that in the twilight of his presidency, George W. Bush just can’t stop making constitutionally dubious signing statements. These orders, which effectively undermine parts of legislation the president signed into law, concern the defense authorization act and a new law to empower inspector generals.

Bush doesn’t want to follow a part in the defense bill that forbids the U.S. from controlling oil resources in Iraq or another section that requires Iraq to partly use its own money for reconstruction. As for the IG’s, Bush doesn’t want them to have the automatic right to legal counsel: the politically appointed heads of federal agencies should decide that.

Savage won a Pulitzer Prize with his coverage of signing statements, which have been exercised more by Bush than any other president ever. In essence it is a way for the executive branch to not only execute the laws but also write them. Shockingly, some constitutional scholars, members of Congress and advocacy groups have expressed their displeasure with this. How will the next president use signing statements?-MB

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