Angie Craig: “I also wish to speak on S. 14 that has just been introduced by Budget Committee chairman Senator Domenici and also…”

“I also wish to speak on S. 14 that has just been introduced by Budget Committee chairman Senator Domenici and also Senator Exon and myself. That is a new bill that will create a legislative line-item veto. We believe that is another important issue that the American people have been continually asking for for well over a decade now with calls the Congress refused to hear or to respond to. Now we think this new Congress will respond. While I remain a strong cosponsor of S. 4--S. 4 is the pure line-item veto that Senator McCain and Senator Coats have brought before this Senate year after year--I am also, in S. 14, offering an additional alternative. Make no confusion by my remarks. I will support the pure line-item veto S. 4. I think it is important that we give it a clean opportunity. But if that cannot be accomplished, I think it is important that the Budget Committee recognize, as they have with the introduction of S. 14 by Senator Pete Domenici, an alternative piece of legislation of this type similar to that I introduced last year which also clearly allows the President to exercise a line-item veto and the Congress, through a procedure both timely and responsive, to address those items singled out by the President. These are important issues.…”