Panel: Bush's sonar order unconstitutional

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- California officials say President George Bush acted unconstitutionally when he pushed for the U.S. Navy to use banned sonar linked to marine mammal deaths.

The California Coastal Commission argued in in federal court Tuesday that Bush violated the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine by moving to exempt Navy sonar training exercises from a federal ban, the Los Angeles Times said.

"The notion that the president can act like some medieval autocrat and impose the law as he sees it violates the fundamental basis of the American Constitution," said Calif. Attorney General Jerry Brown, whose staff lawyers represent the commission.

Bush issued an order last week overturning a federal judge's ruling telling the Navy to avoid sonar exercises within 12 miles of southern California's coast, areas frequented by dolphins and whales. Bush has said the naval training exercises are necessary for national security.