Bush has asked Congress for modified line-item veto powers:
Instead of being able to strike items from bills, he would send one or more items back to Congress for an up-or-down vote. Present law permits Congress to ignore these proposed rescissions, but under the Bush proposal lawmakers would have to vote on them. If majorities in both the House and the Senate agreed with the president, the cuts would take effect.“Forty-three governors have this line-item veto in their states,†Bush said. “Now it's time to bring this important tool of fiscal discipline to Washington, D.C.â€
Bush has not vetoed any legislation during five years in office, but he said the modified line-item proposal would help “reduce wasteful spending, reduce the budget deficit and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.â€
New House Majority Leader John Boehner thinks it's a good idea, as a pork-busting tool:
"I have always supported giving the President the authority to exercise the line item veto as a means to help rein in wasteful spending. It is a useful tool that rejects the status quo as well as the agenda of more government spending that congressional Democrats want desperately to protect. It is important that any proposal give the President real authority to eliminate worthless pork in the budget and meet the test of Constitutionality as well. As Republicans move forward on putting together a responsible budget, we will be discussing this issue as a Conference."
Oddly enough, John Kerry thinks it's a good idea, too.
So, Bush is so enthusiastic about vetoing, he wants to create a new way to veto things, and John Kerry is agreeing with Bush.
Man, maybe I should preach on the end times tonight.
