ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
In a dramatic shift of purse-string power, President Clinton signed a line-item veto bill sought by presidents since Ulysses S. Grant. He promised unprecedented scrutiny of ``the darkest corners of the federal budget.''
But opponents accused Congress of surrendering a precious piece of its constitutional prerogative to spend the people's money. Federal employees immediately filed a court challenge.
Tipping his hat to Republican and Democratic predecessors, Clinton kept four pens used in Tuesday's signing and dispatched them to former Presidents Reagan, Ford, Carter and Bush - all of whom had pleaded for the power to slash specific provisions from spending bills.
``Their successors will be able to use this power that they long sought to eliminate waste from the federal budget,'' said Clinton, who won't be able to use the line-item veto unless re-elected.
Clinton, who seldom used the line-item veto as Arkansas' governor, noted that 43 of the nation's 50 governors can carve away at budget bills. ``They have used it well and without any upsetting of the constitutional framework,'' Clinton said.
Under the new law, presidents can sign spending bills and - within five days - cancel specific items, including appropriations, narrowly targeted tax breaks covering 100 or fewer people and new or expanded entitlements.
It does away with a requirement, in place since the nation's founding, that a president must approve or reject legislation in its entirety.
Congress still gets the last word on spending: A line-item veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress.
The bill, part of the GOP ``Contract With America,'' passed Congress easily despite a rich history of failure. Congress has jealously guarded its spending powers, turning back more than 200 attempts in the last 120 years to give presidents a line-item veto.
Rep. Marge Roukema, R-N.J., said, "In the real world of Washington politics, this gives the president a new tool to punish and reward lawmakers by threatening to line-item veto spending in their districts.''
Federal judges are concerned the courts would have no recourse if the president vetoes their budget. The judges say that would improperly weaken the judiciary's standing among the federal government's three branches.
And a federal employees union said it fears ``a hostile president'' will veto pay raises for bureaucrats.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB