Joel Hefley: “every year someone invents a new term for the line-item veto. We have had enhanced rescission authority, we have had…”

“every year someone invents a new term for the line-item veto. We have had enhanced rescission authority, we have had impoundment control, we have had expedited rescission, and other names too numerous to list. But while the names have changed, there is one factor that has remained the same. That is that the big spenders in Congress have always been opposed. That is because the big spenders know that the line-item veto by any name means less spending and more cuts. It gives the President the ability to turn over the legislative rock and expose all the pork provisions and midnight deals to the light of day. Once exposed, they simply will not survive. By enacting the line-item veto, we can trim billions of dollars off the deficit and restore accountability to the legislative process. Combined with the balanced budget amendment, it will force Congress to make those tough decisions we have avoided for years. It is one more tool in the fight against the deficit.”