Fitzpatrick Votes to Approve Line Item Veto

Fitzpatrick Votes to Approve Line Item Veto

Today, Congressman Michael G. Fitzpatrick voted to give the President line item veto authority when the House passed H.R. 4890, the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006." The legislation passed 247 to 172 (Roll Call 317).

"Passage of this important legislation demonstrates once again Congress' commitment to restraining spending and creating fiscal discipline in Washington," Fitzpatrick said. "The Line Item Veto will increase transparency and accountability in federal spending and discourage the waste of taxpayer dollars on unnecessary and frivolous programs."

The "Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006" amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide the President with the authority to propose the elimination of discretionary spending, new mandatory spending or targeted tax breaks included in legislation that arrives at his desk for signature. Unlike the veto power given to President Clinton in 1996, H.R. 4890 requires Congress to have the final say over any Presidential veto recommendation.

"This new authority will put to an end ridiculous projects like the infamous "bridge to nowhere" which would have cost American taxpayers $320 million," Fitzpatrick added. "We need more transparency in the way we spend American's hard earned dollars. This legislation provides this much needed clarity and I am proud to see it pass the House today with such bipartisan support."

http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=45963