[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11874]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             LINE ITEM VETO

  (Mr. McHENRY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans understand that fiscal 
restraint is not an option. It is a necessity.
  Since 1991, Federal spending on special-interest projects has 
increased by 900 percent. It is interesting just in the last emergency 
spending bill we passed out of this Congress, there is $38 million in 
oyster research money. Now, I certainly like oysters. I think they are 
great whether they are raw or steamed or even fried. I am Southern, so 
fried oysters are great. But I do not think the Federal Government 
should be spending $38 million.
  That is why I support the Presidential line item veto, and I think it 
is important that the President have the authority to root out those 
wasteful spending projects and make sure that pork-barrel spending does 
not continue to grow.
  Mr. Speaker, this initiative will make Congress more accountable and 
help us eliminate the government gluttony that plagues our current 
budget process.

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