Obama Delays in Signing Bills

For Obama, it’s more about showmanship than sunlight is really just whining by the DC Examiner, but it makes a point.

"Back during the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised something he called ‘Sunlight Before Signing.’ Obama complained that ‘too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them.’ So he pledged that, as president, he would ‘not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days.’

“Sunlight Before Signing” faded into darkness with the first bill that came across Obama’s desk. The new president signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act two days after it was passed by Congress — and without posting it on the White House Web site. Then he signed the second bill of his administration, an update of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, within hours after Congress passed it."

"Then, late Friday, after House and Senate Democratic leaders moved heaven and earth to pass it, the bill was ready for the president’s signature. And did President Obama sign it rather quickly? Not at all. He also chose not to sign it on Saturday. And not to sign it on Sunday. And he chose not to sign it on Monday. Only on Tuesday, with a big campaign-style event in Denver, would the president finally be ready to put his signature on the bill."

I suspect the delay had something to do with preparing the documentation to be ready to sign. But there was clearly a delay involved in signing it in Denver and I've already stated my view of that.