    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [June 22, 2006]
    [Pages 1205-1206]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House of Representatives Passage of Legislative Line-Item
    Veto Legislation
    June 22, 2006

        I commend Members of the House who voted today in support of the
    Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006. I also applaud the House
    Republican leadership, Congressman Paul Ryan and
    Congressman Mark Udall, for successfully steering
    this bill to passage. Controlling the Federal appetite for spending and
    protecting taxpayer dollars are shared responsibilities of the
    legislative and executive branches and require a bipartisan approach. I
    appreciate those Democrats who have supported the line-item veto in the
    past and did so again today. The line-item veto is a critical tool that
    will help rein in wasteful spending and

    [[Page 1206]]

    bring greater transparency to the budget process.
        Forty-three Governors have a line-item veto, and we need similar
    authority at the Federal level to control spending. Working with
    Congress, this tool can be used to help reduce the budget deficit and
    discourage the practice of earmarking Federal funds for projects that
    are wasteful, duplicative, or unnecessary. I urge the Senate to also
    pass the line-item veto legislation, so Congress and my administration
    can begin using this important tool to help enforce fiscal discipline.

    Note: The statement referred to H.R. 4890.