The Line Item Veto will be another tool for reducing the size of the federal government. The President can scratch out any section of a bill of which he does not approve, thus eliminating a program before it begins or eliminating funding for a particular item which costs too much.
There are a few versions of the Line Item Veto out there. In my version of the Line Item Veto the procedure would be as follows:
1. The President of the United States would be allowed to strike through any portion of the bill, as short as a single word or budget item, and as large as an entire title or section.
2. The remainder of the bill will go through as passed. Everything in the bill which was not crossed out will become law. Budget items will be approved (those items not crossed out).
3. The items which were crossed out by the President will be treated as any other veto. Those items will not be enacted.
4. Congress can overturn the President’s line item vetoes if the vetoes of that bill are resubmitted for a discussion and 2/3 of Congress approves. (This is the same procedure as for overriding the normal veto).
Implementing the Line Item Veto requires a Constitutional Amendment. The Amendment might read as follows:
“The President of the United States shall have the authority to veto any word, budget item, or section of any legislation which has been sent by Congress for Presidential signature.”
“All terms within the bill which were not vetoed by the President shall become law.”
“Any item within a bill vetoed by the President may become law if Congress approves with 2/3 of Congress votes to over-ride the veto.”
