Wendy Sherman: “I had the Clerk read the whole amendment because it's just one sentence, and it's very simple. It says none of the money…”

“I had the Clerk read the whole amendment because it's just one sentence, and it's very simple. It says none of the money in this act can be used deliberately by the President to violate the law-- in particular, the war powers resolution often referred to as the War Powers Act, which is found in title 50 of the United States Code. Why is this amendment necessary? Because so many administrations have embraced the idea of an imperial Presidency, have embraced the idea that a United States President can send our forces into battle for an unlimited duration, unlimited in scope, and for whatever purposes the executive branch finds worthy. The War Powers Act is the law of this land, and it says that a President may indeed commit our forces but must seek congressional authorization and must withdraw in 60 days if that authorization is not provided by the vote of both Houses of Congress. {time} 2240 But this President, like some others, believes that he doesn't have to follow the law. And in fact in this case in Libya, we and our allies were not attacked but rather a very important purpose--or thought to be important by the President--presented itself and so he committed our forces. Now, the respect that the executive branch has for Congress has called upon them to hide their contempt for the law. And so they've implied without really stating it that there are substitutes for a congressional authorization.…”