From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

June 14, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson Sees Line-Item Veto as Waste-Busting Tool

Washington DC-Congressman Jim Matheson said the fight against wasteful spending would get a boost if legislation giving the President line-item veto authority-marked up by the House Budget Committee today-becomes law. Matheson is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan bill - HR 4890-the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006.

"I strongly support efforts to restore fiscal discipline to the federal budget process. This bill would give the President the authority to propose the elimination of wasteful spending and special-interest tax breaks, while preserving Congress' power of the purse under the Constitution," said Matheson. "If we are serious about putting our fiscal house in order, this is a necessary tool."

Matheson said that unlike the line-item veto authority provided to President Clinton in 1996, this proposed bill is constitutional because it requires an up-or-down vote in both chambers of Congress, under an expedited process, before the President's rescissions stand.  If the House and Senate pass the President's rescission, it is sent to the President and becomes law.  If either house votes against it, the rescission is not enacted.

"This is one way to hold everyone's feet to the fire, when it comes to an honest, open accounting on how the public's money is spent," said Matheson.

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Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)