[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 2006)]
[Page 1104]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Governors on the Line-Item Veto

June 8, 2006

    Appreciate some of our Nation's finest Governors joining us today. 
We talked about a couple of things. The first thing I did was bring the 
Governors up to date on recent successes we've had in Iraq. I talked 
about my discussion with Prime Minister Maliki, about the fact that he's 
completed his cabinet. I also told them that I had talked to our 
commanders and congratulated them on bringing Mr. Zarqawi to justice.
    I thanked our Governors for being such strong commanders in chief. I 
hope they take a message back to their respective Guard units, how much 
our country appreciates their service, and I hope they also take the 
message back that we appreciate the service of their families.
    We also talked about fiscal discipline, how the executive branch can 
have certain tools to work with the legislative branch to make sure that 
they're--responsible spending. Every one of these Governors have got a 
line-item veto, and they've used it wisely, and they shared their 
experiences with me. And the reason they did so is because we're urging 
Congress to give this President and future Presidents the opportunity to 
be able to have what is very much similar to a line-item veto. And the 
American people expect their money to be spent wisely. The President 
needs to have a tool to be able to work with the Congress so that that 
money is spent wisely.
    I appreciate the support of both Republicans and Democrats on the 
Hill in supporting the bill that we've submitted. I urge the Congress to 
pass this type of legislation so that we can work together to get our 
deficit cut in half by 2009, but, more importantly, assure the American 
people that we're being wise about how we use their money.
    I thank you all very much. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate 
it.

Note: The President spoke at 10:50 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Nuri al-
Maliki of Iraq; and senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, who 
was killed in Baquba, Iraq, on June 7.