Henry Cuellar: “I thank Congressman Ryan and Ranking Member Spratt. I am a cosponsor of this legislation because my belief and my…”

“I thank Congressman Ryan and Ranking Member Spratt. I am a cosponsor of this legislation because my belief and my experience show me that this is an effective tool to restoring accountability in our government. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a good starting point to begin the process of eliminating wasteful spending in government. This bill gives the President the latitude to recommend that appropriations, direct spending, or tax breaks be cut. These items are commonsense in nature and cross party lines. A spending item is as eligible for cancellation as a tax break. The items that are eligible for cancellation or rescission send a clear message to our constituents that we are serious about government accountability. Common misperception holds that the President has the final say on items that he wishes to eliminate, but this is not correct. Under this legislation Congress has the final say. The President can recommend, but it is up to Congress to vote up or down on his particular cuts. Congress retains the power to say ``no.'' There is no threat to our constitutional powers of the purse. To address the concerns that the line item veto is a political tool, I urge my colleagues to keep in mind that neither party has a monopoly on the executive branch. While the President is of one party today, this can certainly change tomorrow. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill that helps restore accountability in Washington and restores the faith of our constituents.”