[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 31, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           IT'S TIME TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE LINE-ITEM VETO

  (Mr. GUTKNECHT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, the Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu said 
that, ``the journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.''
  Last week this House took a giant step toward fiscal sanity by 
passing the balanced budget amendment.
  Later this week, the House will begin debate on giving the President 
the line-item veto. This is, to be sure, a powerful tool in the hands 
of our Chief Executive. Some will argue the potential for abuse.
  But, my colleagues, 43 Governors have similar authority.

                              {time}  1110

  The real value of the line-item veto rests in the knowledge that the 
Executive has the power and will use it if he sees wasteful spending. 
Rather than see the line-item veto as a weapon, perhaps we should see 
it as a tourniquet, a tourniquet that will help us stop the 
hemorrhaging of red ink. With the national debt ballooning at over 
$10,000 a second, it is time we attack this issue on every front. It is 
time to give the President the line-item veto.

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