Watch What You Sign (7/16/02)
by Dean Hartwell
In the United States,
the Congress votes upon passage of bills and funding, if necessary, to go with
them. If both the House and the Senate agree, the bill goes to the President.
If he disagrees, the bill goes back to Congress, who can override the
president’s veto. If he agrees, the bill becomes law and the Administration
releases the funding for it.
What happens if the president signs the bill but does not release the funding?
That is exactly what President Bush did recently with a $34 million dollars for
a U.N. family planning program. Last year, Bush indicated he supported the
bill, which passed Congress. Bush signed the bill into law but has refused to
release the money.
The Bush Administration has given no explanation for this contradiction. Some
observers believe that complaints from the conservative wing of the Republican
Party have given the president pause to consider. These conservatives have
accused the UN program of supporting abortions and sterilization by force,
especially in China.
In fact, Bush sent a delegation to that nation earlier this year to check on
how previous funding has been used. Interestingly, Great Britain sent a
delegation of their own for the same purpose and that group reported no misuse
of funds for family planning.
Whatever the reason for the president’s stalling, he and his administration
have gotten legislation backwards. If he has a problem with funding family
planning through the United Nations, he ought to tell Congress of his concerns
before they vote. As the president, George W. Bush has the responsibility to
uphold the laws that he signs.