President Bush Wants to Read Your Mail

In December the President signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which covered certain "mundane" issues but also was to protect Americans from their mail being opened without a warrant. However on December 20th, directly after signing the Postal Act into law, he slipped a "signing statement" over it. The signing statement actually gives the federal government the authority to open your first class mail without a judge's warrant. The President added the "signing statement" to be used only in "emergency situations". But what the Bush administration sees as an "emergency situation" is not clearly laid out.

This recent act of intrusion on the part of the President is being defended by his administration, stating that the signing order does not change administration policy on opening American's mail without an actual warrant. However, the ACLU is not taking the matter lightly. According to their website, they are planning to file a Freedom of Information Act request in order to get more information about the President's new authorization of mail intrusion. They are also asking Congress to "exercise its oversight function" as well as asking the Postal service to help them by keeping track of the numbers of "incidents" where mail is opened, then forwarding the numbers to the public and Congress.

On the ACLU website, Executive Director Anthony D. Romero stated, "The President's signing statement raises serious concerns that the Administration's warrantless surveillance of telephone calls and Internet communications extends to the U.S. mail, as well." "Given the President's dismal record of violating the privacy rights of Americans, we must question whether he is authorizing the opening of mail without a warrant in violation of the Constitution and laws enacted by Congress, continued Mr. Romero.

As a country, we do not know how many times this has been enforced since December 20th, if they have used any sort of policy or procedure when conducting the investigation, and if the person is contacted in regards to why their mail has been confiscated and opened. So now the ACLU is asking questions on the "signing statement" and demanding answers, which is why they will be filing the FOIA request soon. Mr. Romero wants Americans to know the ground rules set forth by this "signing statement". He and the ACLU believe we need details as to how, where and why they are opening American's mail. He also points out that the President apparently waited until Congress was in recess before issuing the signing statement.

However, the recent "signing statement" is just a drop in the bucket, according to the Boston Globe. In April of 2006, they printed a story about President Bush issuing approximately 750 "signing statements" since the day he has taken office. Some of the examples of the "signing statements" issued included: affirmative action provisions, military rules and regulations, and "safeguards against political interference in federally funded research". President Bush is seen as basically bending the rules of the Constitution when he sees fit to do so. The Constitution is very clear in the fact that Congress writes the laws and the President duty is "to take care of the laws by faithful execution". If you think back to the situation of President Bush's domestic spying program, you will remember his thoughts on wiretapping American's phones without the need for warrant. Legal specialists feel that based on this act, the President believes he should have the Constitutional authority to override laws and take actions that he deems necessary. Several legal scholars seem to believe that the President steps over his boundaries as Commander in Chief by also trying to take on the roles of Congress and the courts.

It is a no-brainer that our country needs heightened protection since September 11th, but where should we draw the line? The Bush administration and their legal team have been taking the past several years to quietly give even more power to the White house, according to Phillip Cooper a Portland State University law professor. So, once we add the recent "signing statement" to the pile of those already in existence, where will it go from here? All eyes will be on the ACLU to find more answers for the American people. We will just have to watch and wait, just don't wait to receive all of your mail.

Sources:

-ACLU website; http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/27843prs20070104.html , 2007 January 4.

-The Boston Globe website; http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/04/30/bush_challenges_hundreds_of_laws/ , 2006 April 30, article by Charlie Savage.

-The Christian Science Monitor website; http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0105/dailyUpdate.html , 2007 January 5, article by Tom Regan.