Originally Posted by Marcus1124

Well, you may not BELIEVE it, but where do you think the checks come from? Or does the money magically into people's bank accounts with a swing of the President's pen? No, appropriated funds are administered through the various agencies of the....wait for it.....wait for it....THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH!!! And who is the head of the Executive Branch....wait for it.....wait for it....THE PRESIDENT (in whom the full executive power of the United States is vested). Basically, the Congress sends bills to the President AUTHORIZING him (through the executive branch under his exclusive control) to spend money, it does not SPEND it itself; as the head of the Executive branch, the President then MAY spend appropriated funds, and may also REFRAIN from spending them. That is why they are called APPROPRIATIONS in the constititution and not Expenditure(s).

Of course you are also ignoring the plain and simple fact that for most of our history Presidents HAVE been impounding funds.

Pram's hysterics aside, this is hardly a novel or "monarchical" notion, it is firmly rooted in our nations history, and the Congress has significant powers of its own to act as a check against any Presidential overreaching or abuse. It can refuse to pass appropriations (authorization) for the president to spend on things HE favors, they may even impeach if that is what it comes to.