On the recordFebruary 8, 2012
I support H.R. 3521, the Expedited Line- Item Veto and Rescissions Act, which creates a process enabling the President to propose the elimination of certain individual spending items that he deems unnecessary and to submit those eliminations to Congress for an expedited vote. This may prove to be a useful tool to ensure that our government closely stewards important taxpayer dollars. It is disappointing, however, that such a tool should be necessary. Our constitution vests Members of Congress with the responsibility to raise and spend revenue to provide for the general welfare of the United States. In other words, we are obligated to invest taxpayer dollars in ways that grow our economy, protect our environment and public health, defend our nation, educate our children, and build a strong infrastructure. In sum, Congress has the responsibility to keep America competitive in the 21st century. It is my hope that the President will not need to use this new power. Unfortunately, Congress has too often shown that it is unable to make the hard choices necessary--on unnecessary weapons systems, on subsidizing big agribusiness, on the provision of expensive tax benefits to the oil industry--to eliminate wasteful spending. I support H.R. 3521, but I remain hopeful that Congress finds the will to act responsibly and avoids use by the President of a line item veto.
