William Orton: “Then, in fact, Mr. Chairman, I take back the balance of my time and I would simply make the point that if the gentleman…”

“Then, in fact, Mr. Chairman, I take back the balance of my time and I would simply make the point that if the gentleman is not willing to expand his amendment to make it absolutely clear that the line-item veto applies to all contract authority spending by the committee, then, in fact, the argument that was raised during the debate on the rule is, in fact, applicable. Because there is a concern that there may be spending that is not covered by line-item veto; that, in fact, that spending may continue to be simply pork barrel spending; it may continue to be authorized under this legislation, so that a committee of Congress can directly authorize contract expenditures, which neither come within the fiscal restraints of the budget act nor comes within the fiscal restraints of the line-item veto, thereby completely avoiding and evading any type of fiscal restraint on that spending. So, Mr. Chairman, I would oppose the amendment as it stands; would encourage the gentleman to expand the amendment to make it clear that the line-item veto does, in fact, apply to all contract spending by the committee, authorized by the committee; and if, in fact, he would do that, I would support the amendment and urge my colleagues to vote for it.”