Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, we may differ on whether the line-item veto will reduce Federal spending. For example, Pennsylvania has a line-item veto. Its total debt has tripled since 1982, growing from $6.2 billion in 1982 to $16.5 billion in 1994. For all of the States, total debt has doubled in just 8 years, growing from $186 billion in 1984 to $372 billion in 1992. At a hearing last month on this bill, Mr. Chairman, the director of the Congressional Budget Office testified: "Evidence from the States suggest that the item veto has not been used to hold down State spending or deficits, but rather has been used to State Governors to pursue their own priorities." Mr. Chairman, I had the honor of serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature prior to being elected to the Congress. The experience from Pennsylvania demonstrates how the executive branch can use this power. In the 1983-84 fiscal year, the Pennsylvania Legislature initially refused to adopt the budget submitted by the Governor, including his proposals to increase taxes. The Governor responded by cutting from the State Senate 62 percent of the Senate's budget, including Senators' salaries and expenses, and by completely eliminating salary and mileage expenses for Members of the State House.”