Steve Scalise Quotes
The president does not have the option of choosing which laws he will follow and which he will ignore.
Scalise, Steve. "Scalise Statement on House Passage of ENFORCE the Law Act." U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise, 12 Mar. 2014.
Opinion in case against the government for illegal CIA activities. The defense had been that the President had authorized and ordered the operations in question.
Barstow the Democratic Governor who had no serious opposition in 1853 found himself challenged for reelection by Coles Bashford of the new Republican Party. The Board of Canvassers reported that Governor Barstow had won reelection but by less than 200 votes in the whole state. The Republicans charged that there had been fraud in some of the rural districts and petitioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court which ruled that nonexistent precincts had indeed voted for the Governor. The Barstow however refused to recognize the decisions of the court claiming that the court had no jurisdiction over the Board of Canvassers who were part of the executive branch. The Republicans held their own inauguration and two men claimed to be Governor. But the Governor claimed that the state constitution did not give the court any authority to deal with the crisis, He even called out the State Militia to maintain his office and intimidate the Supreme Court and keep the “other governor” from the state house. Nonetheless the court ruled that even the Governor had to obey the law and the Supreme Court would determine what the law was. Barstow finally “resigned.” See {587917} & {587914}.
This principle has been in force since the beginning of our republic. However, there was a suggested challenge to it by President Richard M. Nixon, and a substantial challenge by the George W. Bush Administration which took the position that as long as the President was engaged in carrying out a Constitutionally mandated function, like war or foreign policy, the President did not have to obey the existing laws and could direct his subordinates to violate the law. Bush lost in those areas which came to the courts and the Supreme Court made it clear that even the President, carry out his official duties, had no immunity from the laws of the nation.
Stephen Joseph Scalise is an American politician who is the United States House of Representatives minority whip and representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district, serving since 2008. The district includes most of New Orleans's suburbs, such as Metarie, Kenner and Slidell, as well as a sliver of New Orleans itself. He is a member of the Republican Party and was the chair of the conservative House Republican Study Committee.
