Thursday, December 11, 2008 2:40 PM

Panel Presses Obama On War Powers Reform

By MARY GILBERT

Barack Obama is sitting down today with former Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher, chairmen of the National War Powers Commission, a meeting requested by the bipartisan panel presumably to discuss the findings of their recent report on war powers legislation.

Convened by the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, the Commission was formed in 1997 in order to "establish a clear process on decisions to go to war." Other panel members include former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., former Attorney General Edwin Meese, former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and former Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.

After interviewing over 40 witnesses, the group published a report in July advocating for the creation of a new War Powers Consultation Act of 2009 to replace the law currently in place, the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Labeling the 1973 legislation "impractical and ineffective," the report calls on the new president to make passage of a new bill a priority for his first 100 days in office.

The Commission maintains that Congress should have the opportunity and responsibility to explicitly vote yes or no on any "significant armed conflict." The proposed bill mandates consultation between the executive and legislative branches before Congress authorizes any conflict expected to last more than one week. Once conferred with, Congress must vote within 30 days on a resolution to approve the war. If approved, it is clear that both branches have "endorsed" the hostilities. If, however, the resolution is defeated , any member of Congress may then propose a joint resolution of disapproval.

The Commission hopes to convince both Obama and congressional leaders that there is a pressing need for this new legislation and that it will prove mutually beneficial on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. "The nation benefits when the president and Congress consult frequently and meaningfully regarding war and matters of national security," the report concludes, and "the Act we propose provides a needed legal framework that encourages such consultation."

See the full report here [PDF].