David Cay Johnston: “the shift in power which this would bring out would be absolutely mind-boggling to me. You know, the whole fight would…”

“the shift in power which this would bring out would be absolutely mind-boggling to me. You know, the whole fight would be, ``Can you get in the President's budget or not?'' It would make total supplicants of all Members of Congress. You might like that if you like the President. I think this President is going to be reelected. I like him. I must say I do not like him enough to turn over to him, and to all of his successors, the power of the purse when it is vested by the Constitution in this Congress. Madam President, my colleague, Senator Byrd, and others, made a powerful statement about the unconstitutionality of this provision earlier today. They surely are right. If we do not stand up for the rights of the Congress under the Constitution, I hope the courts will. I will support the Senator from West Virginia.”