Congressman Aderholt Votes Against the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006
CONGRESSMAN ADERHOLT VOTES AGAINST THE LEGISLATIVE LINE ITEM VETO ACT OF 2006
Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today voted against the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006 which passed the House of Representatives this afternoon by a vote of 247 to 172. As proposed, this bill would grant the President the authority to cancel any of three classes of budget provisions enacted by Congress - discretionary budget authority, direct spending items, or targeted tax benefits.
"As an elected representative of the people, I have a fundamental mission to help ensure that the money they send to Washington is being spent in a fiscally sound manner," said Congressman Aderholt. "Constitutionally, Congress is responsible both for passing spending bills and oversight over how those funds are used, not the President, whether he be Democrat or Republican. I am concerned that by passing the line-item veto, Congress is failing to live up to its duties as stated in the Constitution."
As offered, the President would submit a special message to Congress within 45 days of a bill's passage, asking for the rescission of a spending item or items. The House and Senate would then have five days to introduce the President's rescission request in bill form. Following that, the appropriate jurisdictional committee would have seven days to report the bill without substantive revision. After a period of debate by the House and Senate, each chamber must vote on the bill within two days. Passage requires a simple majority vote. If passed by both the House and Senate, the bill is sent to the President and becomes law. If either the House or Senate votes against it, the rescission is not enacted.
Congressman Aderholt continued, "While I agree with the bill's goals of reducing the federal deficit and controlling spending, I don't believe that this is the right way to go about it. Congress must continue to take responsibility for spending and not pass the buck to the President."
http://www.house.gov/list/press/al04_aderholt/062206LineItemVetoVote.html