Looming constitutional crisis C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 09/21/2011

Looming constitutional crisis

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

09/21/2011
Even as we laud Speaker Sonny Belmonte and the members of the House of Representatives for passing the proposed P1.8 trillion 2012 budget earlier than expected, we cannot help but be saddened by their inability to overcome the executive department’s insistence in impounding parts of that budget. The power of the purse belongs exclusively to Congress. That power includes the sole discretion to firmly and properly indicate how public funds must and should be used. The same cannot be compromised in any manner or form much less outsourced, in its disposition to the executive. To do so is to render Congress inutile and is a throwback to what senior members of this administration have all been railing against during the Arroyo years – the complete domination of the handling of precious public funds by the executive via the much reviled re-enacted budget system. That was called then the total impoundment of public funds. Under P-Noy, the impounding is selective but equally as deadly and belies the administration’s claims of responsive and accountable governance. This practice is far from such good intentioned hype. It is out and out undemocratic and counter productive..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110921com4.html