Line-Item Veto Ruled Unconstitutional
Dateline: 2/13/98
In between Monica and Iraq, you may hear news about U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan declaring the Presidential power of "Line-Item Veto" to be unconstitutional.
The Line-Item Veto law gives the President the power to strike down, or "Veto" individual measures in new bills that would raise taxes, or increase Federal spending, without vetoing the entire bill.
The Line-Item Veto Law came into being in 1996 as part of the Republican Party's "Contract With America" policy and was strongly supported by President Clinton as an effective and efficient way to curb Federal spending.
President Clinton used the Line-Item Veto for the first time in August of 1997 be vetoing a series of small spending items.
But yesterday, Judge Hogan issued a 27-page decision ruling that the law violated the balance of power between branches of government by allowing the President to alter legislation without the approval of Congress.
The court action against the Line-Item Veto was initiated by New York City and some agricultural businesses in Idaho.
President Clinton has directed the Justice Department to appeal Judge Hogan's decision to the Supreme Court.
Opinion
Whether Judge Hogan is right, or not, the Line-Item Veto Act is good legislation.
To find out why, read my opinion in the message titled, "Roll Out the
Pork" posted on the US Government
Info/Resources Bulletin Board where you are more than welcome
to post your opinion on this, or any other issue.
You can find a complete story about Judge Hogan's ruling in this Washington Post article.
So, what do you think about this, or anything else? Share your brains with
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