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Specter introduces bill to curb executive powers

Earlier this week, I posted regarding Specter’s intention to put forth new legislation curbing Presidential power, including limits on Presidential Signing Statements and Electronic Surveillance. Today, Roll Call reports that Specter has formally introduced the bill into the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he is a high ranking member.

As Specter introduces this legislation that protects the prerogatives of Congress, he reminds me of another old timer in the Senate who has taken a principled stance on protecting the powers of Congress as a fully autonomous, co-equal branch of government: Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia. What’s interesting about this politically is that it represents what I think is an important thread in some of Specter’s more recent political decisions, which is to demonstrate his moderate, “statesmanlike” credentials, and reinforce his independent image to his constituents as he gears up for a tough primary fight ahead. True, it is easy to argue that, by taking actions like opposing the Employer Free Choice Act (or at least refusing to bring it to a vote), Specter has lurched to the right. Yet that doesn’t really jive with the broader range of actions he has taken, starting with voting for the stimulus bill, and continuing through with the introduction of this legislation, that signal his overall moderate stance on most big issues. For the most part, his attacks on Toomey are from the center, painting him as out-of-touch on his conservative positions on everything from economic regulations to privatized social security.

I think what we’re seeing from Specter, in large part, is an attempt to stay (somewhat) true to his principles, while not going so far left on things like “card-check” that he becomes completely anathema to his Republican base. Some will argue (perhaps quite successfully) that this is a losing strategy; by failing to pander to the hardcore right, Specter is abandoning his chance at winning the nomination. Yet at the age of 79, with an long career behind him, perhaps Specter believes that if he goes down, he might as well go down in the right—even if that means looking a little left.

April 23, 2009 at 8:25 pm

--Adam Schwartzbaum

Tags: Arlen Specter, bill, election, executive power, judiciary committee, primary, toomey

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