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Cheney: A Law Unto Himself?

Veep refuses to comply with executive order signed by President Bush

By NewsDude ,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 24, 2007 8:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – Vice President Cheney is refusing to comply with an executive order to compile classified documents used by his office. Cheney's theory is that because he has a limited role in the Senate – President he can break ties – he has immunity from executive orders.

Time writer Michael Murphy sees this as a case of deja vu.  He argues that we are experiencing an example of the continuing tension between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, "One side is completely comfortable with using its subpoena power against an executive branch, while the other is utterly content to ignore it."

President Bush, right, and Vice President Dick Cheney, center, meet with members of Congress, Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in the Oval Office at the White House. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif. is at left. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
President Bush, right, and Vice President Dick Cheney, center, meet with members of Congress, Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in the Oval Office at the White House. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif. is at left. (AP...   (Associated Press)
Vice President Dick Cheney, left, listens while President Bush makes remarks during a meeting with Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Commanding General of Multi-National Security and Transition Command in Iraq, not shown, Thursday, June 14, 2007, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.  (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Vice President Dick Cheney, left, listens while President Bush makes remarks during a meeting with Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Commanding General of Multi-National Security and Transition Command in Iraq,...   (Associated Press)
Vice President Dick Cheney leaves the weekly Republican luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday,  June 5, 2007. Earlier, Cheney's former Chief of Staff I. Lewis Scooter Libby was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in the CIA leak investigation.  (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Vice President Dick Cheney leaves the weekly Republican luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2007. Earlier, Cheney's former Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was sentenced to...   (Associated Press)
Vice President Dick Cheney, left, listens, as President Bush meets with members of Congress, Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in the Oval Office at the White House. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Vice President Dick Cheney, left, listens, as President Bush meets with members of Congress, Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in the Oval Office at the White House. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)   (Associated Press)
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