[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E8]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       LINE-ITEM VETO LEGISLATION

                                 ______


                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing legislation to propose 
an amendment to the Constitution giving the President line-item veto 
authority. This legislation is identical to the line-item veto bill I 
introduced last Congress.
  In years past, the leadership of this body worked hard to see that no 
real line-item veto bill passed the House. They argued that a true 
line-item veto would give too much power to the President. I disagreed 
then and I disagree now.
  In theory, Congress may not need the President's help in deciding how 
best to spend the taxpayer's money. However, in practice, the 
temptation to slip special interest or parochial spending programs into 
otherwise necessary appropriation bills has been too strong to resist. 
Allowing the President to identify and veto such programs would protect 
not only the budget process, but the taxpayers' pockets.
  Mr. Speaker, the line-item veto has proven itself in State after 
State where it has been tried. There is no reason not to allow it at 
the Federal level.


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