◼ Critics of the line-item veto says it will turn the presidency into a monarchy, some hesitated in giving the power to Obama. - Audrey Hudson/HUMAN EVENTS
The House Wednesday passed a presidential line-item veto in a rare show of bipartisan support despite criticism from both sides of the aisle that the bill is unconstitutional and gives the executive branch too much power.
The measure passed 254 to 173 with 57 Democrats voting yes and 41 Republicans voting no.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Budget Committee, and the panel’s ranking Democrat Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, authored the bill that they
said would help cut wasteful government spending.
“We believe this bill will return trust, accountability, and transparency to the way we spend the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars,” Ryan said.
For example, Ryan said, members of Congress will have to be more accountable to public scrutiny when appropriating $40 million for a rainforest museum.
“This will make every member of Congress think twice … that they might have to justify this spending bill on the merits,” Ryan said. “We think this act of sunshine and transparency will help improve the integrity of the spending in Congress.”
