The Need for a Line Item Veto in the Legislative Process
Dennis AuBuchon
January 13, 2009
The line item veto is a subject which has been discussed many times in the past. I feel it is time for it to become reality. There are many pieces of legislation at the state and federal level which have projects attached to them and are never given an up or down vote for their justification. These projects have been given names such as earmarks and pork barrel. I have previously written articles related to the topic of earmarks and the option of using a line item veto would eliminate to a great extent the use of them. While some may say that this kind of authority does not belong at the level of Governor or President, I strongly disagree.
The legislature at the state and federal level is the place where legislation is enacted and sent for signature to a Governor or the President. It is the responsibility of these individuals to decide if they are going to approve or veto any legislation which comes before them. The current financial crisis presents a need to give Governors or the President line item veto authority. It makes sense to allow those in these positions to have more control over the financial situation of the state or country. Line item veto authority would give the option of approving legislation submitted without vetoing the entire legislation, especially when it may affect critical needs at the state or federal level. This authority should not be limited but become a part of the official duties and authority of the respective office.
Past practices in the legislatures have been to attach projects to needed legislation to force approval even though they have not been given an up or down vote on their justification. This is wrong. This practice needs to end. Legislatures have been reluctant to give this kind of authority for various reasons. One of these is where there are different parties in control of the legislature another party holds the office of Governor or President. Those in legislatures must realize the gravity of the current situation and give the needed authority to a governor and/or the President to have greater control over legislation. This will help to avoid letting projects which may not have justification to be enacted as part of major legislation. It will also save taxpayer dollars being spent on unwarranted projects. Justification may be perceived to exist by those who propose them, but in actuality it does not. Legislation if it is warranted should receive an up or down vote. Attaching projects to other legislation which has no bearing on the subject or purpose, in my opinion, is a waste of taxpayer money,
The present financial crisis has brought this issue upfront. As previously stated it is true that a President or Governor of a state does not enact legislation but it is their responsibility to approve it. Governors and the President always seem to get the blame when something goes wrong and the credit when things are going right. It is only right if they are going to be blamed for issues gone bad that they have the prerogative of accepting or vetoing specific line items in legislation. In this respect they will truly be responsible for the actions they take and the laws they enact.
Our legislative process was created with a checks and balance philosophy. The aspect of a line item veto will increase the viability of this system. The President or Governor has the authority and right to either sign or veto legislation brought before them. The line item veto will give them more leverage to approve an entire piece of legislation or veto portions of it. This will allow legislation that is needed to become law while removing those projects which have no justification or have not been given an up or down vote in the legislative process. Legislation should only have amendments to them which are directly related to the subject being addressed.
To summarize this article in simple terms the line item veto is a viable tool which Governors and the President should have in performing the duties of their office. While some may not agree with this statement it is important to remember we have elected these individuals. They need to have the authority to act in the best interest of their state or the country. The line item veto would give more freedom to a Governor or the President to better control unnecessary spending which legislators want for their districts. I am not criticizing legislators for wanting to bring funds to their district but funds need to be spent wisely. Projects which do not provide a proven benefit to the state or the country should not be permitted to become law. All legislation which is processed at the state or federal level should be given an up or down vote before being presented for approval. There have been items in the news where money has been spent on projects which for the most part the American public does not understand. Governors and the President must be given the leverage to control these kinds of expenditures.
While this article has been about the line item veto and the use of earmarks I wish to state that the legislative process we have in this country is a great one. Those we elect to be our representatives and senators have important tasks to fulfill and many fill them with integrity. The process becomes convoluted when earmarks are put in the process of getting legislation enacted. I wish to state that I support any representative or senator who does not asks for earmarks for their districts and those who elected them should support them as well. I wish to point out the difference between an earmark and justified legislation to particular districts. Any legislation which is justified is not considered an earmark. Earmarks are those projects which spend money that does not have viable support, sometimes even by the area receiving the funds. I am also not criticizing those individuals at the state or local level for wanting funds to be provided for state or local projects. While these local and state officials want money they should choose wisely the projects for which they want to receive funds. This kind of analysis will help in getting the funding.
The legislature at the state and federal level is the place where legislation is enacted and sent for signature to a Governor or the President. It is the responsibility of these individuals to decide if they are going to approve or veto any legislation which comes before them. The current financial crisis presents a need to give Governors or the President line item veto authority. It makes sense to allow those in these positions to have more control over the financial situation of the state or country. Line item veto authority would give the option of approving legislation submitted without vetoing the entire legislation, especially when it may affect critical needs at the state or federal level. This authority should not be limited but become a part of the official duties and authority of the respective office.
Past practices in the legislatures have been to attach projects to needed legislation to force approval even though they have not been given an up or down vote on their justification. This is wrong. This practice needs to end. Legislatures have been reluctant to give this kind of authority for various reasons. One of these is where there are different parties in control of the legislature another party holds the office of Governor or President. Those in legislatures must realize the gravity of the current situation and give the needed authority to a governor and/or the President to have greater control over legislation. This will help to avoid letting projects which may not have justification to be enacted as part of major legislation. It will also save taxpayer dollars being spent on unwarranted projects. Justification may be perceived to exist by those who propose them, but in actuality it does not. Legislation if it is warranted should receive an up or down vote. Attaching projects to other legislation which has no bearing on the subject or purpose, in my opinion, is a waste of taxpayer money,
The present financial crisis has brought this issue upfront. As previously stated it is true that a President or Governor of a state does not enact legislation but it is their responsibility to approve it. Governors and the President always seem to get the blame when something goes wrong and the credit when things are going right. It is only right if they are going to be blamed for issues gone bad that they have the prerogative of accepting or vetoing specific line items in legislation. In this respect they will truly be responsible for the actions they take and the laws they enact.
Our legislative process was created with a checks and balance philosophy. The aspect of a line item veto will increase the viability of this system. The President or Governor has the authority and right to either sign or veto legislation brought before them. The line item veto will give them more leverage to approve an entire piece of legislation or veto portions of it. This will allow legislation that is needed to become law while removing those projects which have no justification or have not been given an up or down vote in the legislative process. Legislation should only have amendments to them which are directly related to the subject being addressed.
To summarize this article in simple terms the line item veto is a viable tool which Governors and the President should have in performing the duties of their office. While some may not agree with this statement it is important to remember we have elected these individuals. They need to have the authority to act in the best interest of their state or the country. The line item veto would give more freedom to a Governor or the President to better control unnecessary spending which legislators want for their districts. I am not criticizing legislators for wanting to bring funds to their district but funds need to be spent wisely. Projects which do not provide a proven benefit to the state or the country should not be permitted to become law. All legislation which is processed at the state or federal level should be given an up or down vote before being presented for approval. There have been items in the news where money has been spent on projects which for the most part the American public does not understand. Governors and the President must be given the leverage to control these kinds of expenditures.
While this article has been about the line item veto and the use of earmarks I wish to state that the legislative process we have in this country is a great one. Those we elect to be our representatives and senators have important tasks to fulfill and many fill them with integrity. The process becomes convoluted when earmarks are put in the process of getting legislation enacted. I wish to state that I support any representative or senator who does not asks for earmarks for their districts and those who elected them should support them as well. I wish to point out the difference between an earmark and justified legislation to particular districts. Any legislation which is justified is not considered an earmark. Earmarks are those projects which spend money that does not have viable support, sometimes even by the area receiving the funds. I am also not criticizing those individuals at the state or local level for wanting funds to be provided for state or local projects. While these local and state officials want money they should choose wisely the projects for which they want to receive funds. This kind of analysis will help in getting the funding.
Print
Email
