STRENGTHENS FISCAL DISCIPLINE BY GIVING PRESIDENT AUTHORITY TO REMOVE UNNESSARY OR WASTEFUL SPENDING

Washington, Jun 22, 2006 - "Last year, the federal government spent $2.47 trillion, but took in only $2.15 trillion, leaving a deficit of $318 billion," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala).  "One factor in this ever-increasing spending is special funding projects inserted by individuals members of Congress.  Citizens Against Government Waste reports that Congress approved 1,439 of these projects in 1995.  Ten years later, that figure increased almost tenfold to 13,997 for a total cost of $27 billion.  We need to provide the president with another tool to eliminate wasteful or unnecessary spending."

Stearns joined the House in approving H.R. 4890, the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006.  This measure allows the president 45 days to propose rescissions on spending and tax bills he signs into law, requires Congress to act on the president's proposed rescissions by requiring an up-or-down vote on the complete list, and directs savings from congressionally approved rescissions to deficit reduction efforts.  Stearns has offered legislation providing a Constitutional amendment giving the president line item veto authority.

The Line Item Veto Act was enacted in 1996, allowing the president to cancel any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority provided in an appropriation, any item of new direct spending, or certain limited tax benefits contained in any law.  However, in 1998 a district court ruling held the act unconstitutional because the Constitution provides that the President may either sign a measure into law or veto it in its entirety.  H.R. 4890 is designed to overcome this legal challenge by expanding on the president's rescission authority.