When the U.S. began military actions as part of a NATO led force into Libya on March 19, President Obama cited the 1973 War Powers Act as the legal basis of his ability to conduct military activities for 60 days without first seeking a declaration of war from Congress. The military intervention started on March 19; Congress was notified on March 21. Those 60 days expired on Friday, and several lawmakers are now calling on the President to go to the Congress to give its approval – one of them being Tampa area Democrat Kathy Castor.
Castor told CL on Friday that Obama "did not do a good job in communicating with Congress on the way into Libya," but the latest indications are that the President is still not going to ask for a formal vote.
This article appears in May 19-25, 2011.