[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             LINE-ITEM VETO

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, February 1, 1995
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues and I came 
prepared to cure Congress of its spending addiction. We offered up our 
prescription in our Contract With America. Now we are busy carrying out 
the treatment.
  Last week, we passed the balanced budget amendment, and this week we 
are ready to administer the next part of the cure--the line-item veto. 
Our President will have at his disposal the same legislative scalpel 
that 43 of our Nation's Governors use to cut wasteful spending out of 
their budgets.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize 
former President Ronald Reagan as the ``Godfather'' of the Federal 
line-item veto. It would be a great honor to cure this Nation of its 
spending illness and pass on the legacy of the Reagan budgetary 
remedy--the Federal line-item veto. This is the fiscal treatment the 
American people have been waiting for.
  Mr. Speaker, the American taxpayer works hard for every dollar they 
earn and have to send to Washington. The least we can do is make sure 
that we work together to spend those dollars wisely.


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