It appears that Senator Arlen Specter (R. PA), with John Kerry (D. MA) as a co-sponsor, has decided that the better route for his bill limiting the use of the signing statement by Federal and State courts. Specter has decided to envelope his bill into the DoD authorizations bill for the next fiscal year (H.R. 1585).
Senate Amendment 2021 to HR 1585 is precisely the same as his stand-alone bill. And it appears that it will have the support of the House given that Specter found a Representative to introduce a companion bill there. So far, the administration has not responded to it, but I am sure they will.
Given the purpose of this bill, it is not likely to have much of an effect on the influence of the signing statement given that it only focuses upon the courts, and not the bureaucracy.
I will keep you posted.
