1.3.1: Line-Item Veto

Give the President the line-item veto or expedited rescission authority.

Other Information:

Give the President the line-item veto or expedited rescission authority. The former would require amending the Constitution and is therefore not an immediate possibility; the latter could be achieved legislatively and is therefore feasible. Expedited rescission authority would allow the President to propose cancellation of individual provisions in enacted appropriations bills, and require Congress to take up-or-down votes on those proposals. This power could be used by the President to highlight unjustified spending items that were enacted only because they were included in large appropriations bills, and prod Congress to reject this spending the second time around. However, this procedure would extend a process that already fails to meet deadlines. Presidents already have the capacity through Statements of Administration Policies to identify objectionable items, especially now that the Congress has prohibited the “airdropping” of earmarks into conference reports. And if the experiences of governors with the item veto provide an accurate basis for estimating what could happen at the federal level, the practical effect of that veto on the nation’s fiscal sustainability may be positive, but almost certainly will be small.

Stakeholder(s):

• President of the United States


• Congress

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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