Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990 TAG: 9004260173
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
"The president needs the power to make the tough calls on spending, take the heat - and I'm perfectly prepared to do that," said Bush, also urging that the Constitution be amended to require a balanced budget.
He said seven of his predecessors had requested line-item veto authority, which Congress refused to grant. A total of 43 governors already possess such power.
The government this year is running a deficit of $150 billion; Bush has proposed a $63 billion deficit for next year's budget.
Bush was surrounded by Republican lawmakers, Cabinet officers and budget chief Richard Darman during a brief White House ceremony at which as he signed messages sending his proposed changes to Capitol Hill.
Under current law, a president can only veto an entire piece of legislation. The president cannot excise particular expenditures the White House finds objectionable.
Bush said he needs a way to avoid "unnecessary expenditures . . . without sacrificing entire legislative enactments."
The Legislative Line Item Veto Act would strengthen the president's hand in rescinding funds already appropriated by Congress.
"Congress can reject a presidential rescission simply by inaction," Bush said, noting a 1974 recision law. "And that's precisely what's happened to the vast majority of rescission proposals.
"I ask Congress to require an up or down vote on presidential rescissions."
by CNB