    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [June 26, 1997]
    [Pages 828-829]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Supreme Court Decision on the Line Item Veto
    June 26, 1997

        I am very pleased with today's Supreme Court decision that turned
    back the challenge to the line item veto. This decision clears the way
    for the President to use this valuable tool for eliminating waste in the
    Federal budget and for enlivening the public debate over how to make the
    best use of public funds.
        The line item veto enables Presidents to ensure that the Federal
    Government is spending public resources as wisely as possible. It
    permits the President to cancel discretionary spending, new entitlement
    authority, and certain types of tax provisions that benefit special
    interests at the expense of the public interest.

    [[Page 829]]

        The line item veto is also a practical and principled means of
    serving the constitutional balance of powers. This new authority brings
    us closer to the Founders' view of an effective executive role in the
    legislative process. With it, the President will be able to prevent
    Congress from enacting special interest provisions under the cloak of a
    500- or 1,000-page bill. Special interest provisions that do not serve
    the national interest will no longer escape proper scrutiny.
        I was pleased to work with Congress to secure an historic agreement
    to balance the budget. The line item veto will help to keep the budget
    in balance and provide us with added discipline by ensuring that, as
    tight budgets increasingly squeeze our resources, we put our public
    funds to the best possible uses.
        I intend to use it whenever appropriate, and I look forward to using
    it wisely.