[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 50 (Friday, March 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4132-S4133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE LINE-ITEM VETO

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I want to make a couple of brief comments 
about the line-item veto, and what the 
[[Page S4133]] real, fundamental principle is. The fundamental 
principle about the line-item veto is requiring of a two-thirds 
majority of both Houses to override a President's veto. Anything less 
than that is a sham and meaningless.
  It is my understanding there is serious consideration being given on 
the other side of the aisle to a proposal which would require a 
majority vote in one House in order to override the President's veto. 
The American people will not be fooled by that facade. The American 
people will not be cajoled or deluded to believe that a majority vote 
in one House would be sufficient to override a Presidential veto. It 
only took a majority vote in one House to put the pork in to start 
with. What we are seeing here is a reluctance to take the issue head 
on, but to water it down so it is meaningless.
  In the course of negotiations with my friends on this side and on 
that side, I accepted the separate enrollment. We looked at the 
expansion to entitlements. We looked at targeted tax benefits. And all 
of that is negotiable. It is not negotiable to the American people to 
dilute the two-thirds majority aspect of the line-item veto. Without 
that this is meaningless.
  I understand there are various proposals being considered for an 
alternative suggested by the Democrats. I strongly recommend that 
whatever they propose does not drop the two-thirds majority. It is 
clear on this side of the aisle, because of the internal debate we went 
through, the overwhelming majority on this side of the aisle will stick 
to and adhere to a two-thirds majority in order for the President's 
veto to be overridden. That is the meaning of the word veto. That is 
what it all is about in the 43 States in America, where Governors have 
the line-item veto. We will accept nothing less.
  If people on the other side of the aisle or anywhere support such a 
weakening of the line-item veto, I warn them: The American people will 
not be fooled.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  

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