Political Quotes

“I rise to introduce the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006. I am proud to say there are over 20 Senators who have joined me as original cosponsors of this legislation, including our colleague from Massachusetts, Senator Kerry. I wish to thank Senator Kerry for his support, and for the support of all of the other original cosponsors who have joined me on this significant legislative reform proposal. The legislation itself is long overdue. It is an authority provided in one version or another to 43 Governors today. It is an authority that has been requested by at least 11 Presidents, including Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. The Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006, first outlined by President Bush yesterday, when enacted will provide the President and the Congress with a tool to surgically remove specific spending and targeted tax benefits from broader enacted legislation. Unlike the line item veto legislation that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in 1998, this is clearly constitutional. The legislation builds upon current Presidential rescission authorities changing the current process to require Congress to act, one way or the other, on the President's proposed removal of items in enacted law. This new procedure guarantees an up-or-down vote on the President's proposed rescissions, without amendments.…”