ALTHOUGH America's system of checks and balances requires each branch of the U.S. government to police the others, President Bush often takes unilateral actions without approval by Congress. Here are two new examples:

When Bush signed the 2008 Defense Authorization Act into law, one day before his State of the Union address, he added a "signing statement" allowing him simply to disregard several sections of the law passed by Congress.

One section creates a commission to investigate widespread contractor fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another creates greater protections for whistleblowers working for those contractors, like Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Perhaps most important is the section forbidding the use of taxpayer money "to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq" or "to exercise U.S. control of the oil resources of Iraq."

Bush claimed that this section may "inhibit the president's ability to carry out his constitutional obligations ... and to execute his authority as commander in chief."

Bush is negotiating a long-term agreement with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to guarantee U.S. military and economic influence in Iraq for decades. That agreement, Bush claims, will not be a "treaty," which means that it won't need ratification by the Senate.

Thus, the lame-duck president is trying to build a U.S. military power base in Iraq, without approval by Congress. We hope West Virginia's delegation in Washington steps in to prevent this travesty.

Meanwhile, four days before his State of the Union speech, Bush announced he will end the ban on building roads through treasured national forests, including the Tongass rainforest in Alaska and others in Idaho and Colorado. This drew immediate outcries from nature-lovers:

"The few remaining roadless areas of our national forests are some of the only safe harbors for America's wildlife," said Mary Beth Beetham of Defenders of Wildlife.

"The Tongass is the crown jewel of our nation's roadless wildlands," said Trish Rolfe of the Sierra Club in Alaska. "Wild salmon, bears, eagles and wolves thrive there among moss-draped ancient trees, along crystalline fjords and untamed rivers."

The Tongass has 9 million acres of wilderness with no permanent protection from roadbuilding. Apparently, Bush wants to give private loggers access, so they can fire up their chainsaws to make money in that unique area.

Three times in the past, the House of Representatives voted to bar using federal money to build logging roads in the Tongass. We hope Congress will do that again.

Evidently, Congress must serve as a defensive shield, taking actions to block unilateral affronts by the White House.

When Bush signed the 2008 Defense Authorization Act into law, one day before his State of the Union address, he added a "signing statement" allowing him simply to disregard several sections of the law passed by Congress.

One section creates a commission to investigate widespread contractor fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another creates greater protections for whistleblowers working for those contractors, like Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Perhaps most important is the section forbidding the use of taxpayer money "to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq" or "to exercise U.S. control of the oil resources of Iraq."

Bush claimed that this section may "inhibit the president's ability to carry out his constitutional obligations ... and to execute his authority as commander in chief."

Bush is negotiating a long-term agreement with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to guarantee U.S. military and economic influence in Iraq for decades. That agreement, Bush claims, will not be a "treaty," which means that it won't need ratification by the Senate.

Thus, the lame-duck president is trying to build a U.S. military power base in Iraq, without approval by Congress. We hope West Virginia's delegation in Washington steps in to prevent this travesty.

Meanwhile, four days before his State of the Union speech, Bush announced he will end the ban on building roads through treasured national forests, including the Tongass rainforest in Alaska and others in Idaho and Colorado. This drew immediate outcries from nature-lovers:

"The few remaining roadless areas of our national forests are some of the only safe harbors for America's wildlife," said Mary Beth Beetham of Defenders of Wildlife.

"The Tongass is the crown jewel of our nation's roadless wildlands," said Trish Rolfe of the Sierra Club in Alaska. "Wild salmon, bears, eagles and wolves thrive there among moss-draped ancient trees, along crystalline fjords and untamed rivers."

The Tongass has 9 million acres of wilderness with no permanent protection from roadbuilding. Apparently, Bush wants to give private loggers access, so they can fire up their chainsaws to make money in that unique area.

Three times in the past, the House of Representatives voted to bar using federal money to build logging roads in the Tongass. We hope Congress will do that again.

Evidently, Congress must serve as a defensive shield, taking actions to block unilateral affronts by the White House.