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kpete

(72,006 posts) Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:34 AM Jan 2013

Obama Signs Fiscal Cliff Bill Into Law (in Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday night via autopen)

Source: Talking Points Memo

Obama Signs Fiscal Cliff Bill Into Law

IGOR BOBIC 12:21 AM EST, THURSDAY JANUARY 3, 2013

President Obama signed H.R. 8, the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012," a bipartisan bill to avert the so-called fiscal cliff in Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday night via autopen, the White House announced.

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-signs-fiscal-cliff-bill-into-law?ref=fpb

3 replies

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Obama Signs Fiscal Cliff Bill Into Law (in Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday night via autopen) (Original Post) kpete Jan 2013 OP

Thanks ! goclark Jan 2013 #1

I don't get the autopen thing MKITEM Jan 2013 #2

It would add time dr.strangelove Jan 2013 #3

goclark

(30,404 posts)

1. Thanks !

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:39 AM

Jan 2013

MKITEM

(53 posts)

2. I don't get the autopen thing

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:45 AM

Jan 2013

Why can't he just sign it where he is located?

dr.strangelove

(4,851 posts)

3. It would add time

Reply to MKITEM (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 11:54 AM

Jan 2013

My understanding is that once he signs it, the signed document must be hand delivered back to some clerk of congress, so the law can be entered and become effective. If he signed it in Hawaii and put it on a plane back to DC, it would just add another day to the process, plus its a waste of money.

He is the first POTUS to use it to sign laws. Most since JFK have used it for ceremonial signatures.

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