Cord Byrd: “Mr. President, the 110th Congress will consider legislation this session that raises passions and excites partisan…”

“Mr. President, the 110th Congress will consider legislation this session that raises passions and excites partisan fervor. It is likely that much of what the Congress considers this year and next will be subject to Presidential veto threats because the President's political party no longer controls the Congress. I was quite surprised recently to hear some Senators take the position that this body is wasting its time in drafting and passing legislation which the President threatens to veto. Let me respectfully remind all who listen that the Congress legislates for the people and has a constitutional obligation--in other words, duty--to act independently from--I say this again, I say it respectfully--from the White House. There are three branches, as everybody knows, of Government. This is a separate but equal branch. I want Senators to listen. This is a separate branch, but it is equal. I will repeat myself. As Senators already know, there are three separate but equal branches of Government. The Constitution's Framers never considered a President to be the final arbiter of the public good.”