Bob Dole: “on Monday we are going to move to the line- item veto. I want to congratulate Senators McCain, Coats, Domenici, Lott…”

“on Monday we are going to move to the line- item veto. I want to congratulate Senators McCain, Coats, Domenici, Lott, Stevens, and members of my staff and others who have been working trying to bring us together on the Republican side. I think now that we are in fair agreement on this side. I want to congratulate my colleagues, particularly Senators McCain and Coats, who have been at this year after year after year, for their efforts. They have not given up and they have stuck to it and have hung in there. Now we may be able to pass this legislation. Just as we had the debate on the balanced budget amendment which lost because six of my colleagues on the other side, who voted for a balanced budget amendment 1 year, voted against the identical--or almost identical--bill the next year. This line-item veto has the overwhelming support of the American people. It will receive the overwhelming support of Republicans on this side of the aisle. I know that this legislation is opposed by some and by many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I know that they will do what they can within the rules to block passage. But let me say that the line-item veto, in my view, is a little different than the constitutional amendment for a balanced budget. In the House, it passed by a vote 294 to 134. Strong bipartisan support. It has also been voted on a number of times in the Senate over the past years.”