Charles W. Stenholm: “Furthermore, OMB could continue to withhold the funds from obligation until the President's plan was voted on, as…”

“Furthermore, OMB could continue to withhold the funds from obligation until the President's plan was voted on, as required by the legislation regardless of any attempts by Congress to waive its internal rules. If Congress used its constitutional authority to set its own rules to avoid a vote on the President's rescissions, it would give the President the ability to withhold indefinity the funds in question. So, Mr. Chairman, we are really strengthening the legislation. This amendment would expedite the rescission process, as well as retain the line-item veto language in the bill. I would like to point out to those Members who are serious about ending the practice of deficit spending that this amendment makes sense. By including both rescission and line-item veto language in the bill, the Stenholm-Spratt amendment guards against the Congress and the President being without the tools needed to balance the budget. One strength of the Stenholm-Spratt amendment is that it requires Congress to vote on rescissions submitted at any point in the year.”