President Bush on Monday asked Congress to pass a law that would allow him, and future presidents, to veto specific items in spending bills -- bills that authorize the expenditure of public funds.

Known as the "line-item" veto, Congress passed a law granting the power to President Clinton in 1996, only to have the Supreme Court declare it unconstitutional in 1998. The Supreme Court ruled that the law allowed the president to effectively amend bills passed by Congress, a power, held the court, reserved to the legislative branch under Article I of the Constitution.

The version of the line-item veto suggested by President Bush would allow him to propose individual spending items to be cut and require Congress to vote on them individually. The White House contends that this version should pass constitutional muster.

Considering it a way to reduce excessive government spending, both Republican and Democratic presidents have long sought the power of the line-item veto with varying degrees of congressional support and success. The House voted down a similar bill two years ago in a 174-237 vote, in which three out of four Democrats voted "no."

The governors of 43 states currently have some form of line-item veto power.

In his five years in office, President Bush has yet to veto a single piece of legislation.

Also See: Line-Item Veto Ruled Unconstitutional