Trent Lott: “last year, after years of legislative consideration and debate, Congress enacted into law the Line Item Veto Act. For…”

“last year, after years of legislative consideration and debate, Congress enacted into law the Line Item Veto Act. For the next several years, this act gives the President authority, within carefully circumscribed limits, to cancel particular items of appropriation, direct spending, or limited tax benefits. The President must send Congress a special message reporting his cancellations within five days after he approves the bill containing the spending or tax provisions, and Congress may then consider, under expedited procedures, whether to pass a new law disapproving the President's cancellation. Congress delegated this responsibility to the President as a means of furthering our goal of balancing the federal budget. Congress's enactment of the Line Item Veto Act followed vigorous debate in the Senate, in which some opponents raised doubts about the law's constitutionality. All Members recognized that these constitutional questions likely ultimately would be resolved only in the Supreme Court. Last January, the day after the law took effect, in the case of Byrd v. Raines, six of our colleagues filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the Line Item Veto Act. On January 22, 1997, the Senate directed the Senate Legal Counsel to appear on behalf of the Senate as amicus curiae in Byrd v. Raines to defend the constitutionality of the Line Item Veto Act.”