[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 23 (Monday, February 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          WHAT TOOK US SO LONG

  (Mr. NORWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, for years, the American people have 
supported the line-item veto as another tool to help control Government 
spending and balance the budget. In November 1994, a poll showed that 
77 percent of the American people supported the line-item veto, and in 
1992, a poll showed a 68-percent approval rating. With this kind of 
support for a good Government measure, I have to ask what took us so 
long?
  Putting aside any notion of partisan politics, the Republican 
majority has finally brought the line-item veto to the floor for a 
vote. We are delivering to the President a necessary tool to allow him 
to control Government spending and to kill pork-barrel politics. We are 
keeping our promise to the American people through our Contract With 
America. I hope my Democrat colleagues join me in supporting this 
legislation. Its time has finally come.

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