[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 86 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              URGING MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE LINE-ITEM VETO

  (Mr. COOPER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, last year alone the Congress of the United 
States put almost $6 billion worth of pork barrel spending projects 
into its spending bills. We will never balance the Federal budget 
unless we get this rush to the Federal trough under control.
  That is why we need to make a fundamental change in the way this 
House works and the way this Government works. That is why I have 
always supported the line-item veto.
  With the stroke of a pen, the President could cut out each pork 
project that Congress puts into each bill. That is why I am joining my 
colleague, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], in introducing 
legislation to adopt the real line-item veto.
  A vote on the Solomon proposal was supposed to take place today. Like 
many of my colleagues, I was very disappointed to hear that it would be 
delayed for 2 weeks, until the week of July 11.
  I also view this as an opportunity to go back to our districts and to 
our States and listen to the people. I think we will find that the 
American people strongly support the real line-item veto, so we can get 
our Federal spending under control.
  Mr. Speaker, this may be our best chance to adopt the line-item veto 
and to get our economic House in order. I urge my colleagues to support 
the line-item veto.

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