Difference between revisions of "Line-item veto"

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-The '''line-item veto''' is the power of the top executive in government, either the president or a state governor, to sign a budget into law while striking out (lining out) certain expense items that the executive disfavors.  This is favored by [[conservatives]] to reduce overall spending, but the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] held it to be unconstitutional at the [[federal]] level.  Many state governors have this power.
-Part of the controversy around the line item veto is in the [[separation of powers]] in government.  The line item veto can be used to change the meaning of passages in a law.  Vetoing a 'not' can drastically alter the meaning of a sentence.  It has also been used to selectively veto letters and make new law - a power that should not be in the hands of the executive branch.
-For example, the passage:
-:"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
-Could be vetoed
-:"A <s>well regu</s>late<s>d</s> mil<s>itia, b</s>e<s>ing necessa</s>r<s>y to the security</s> of a free state, <s>the right of the people to keep and bear arms,</s> shall not be infringed."
-Which would now read:
-:"A late miler of a free state, shall not be infringed."
-== Further reading ==
-* [http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen10/news/FrankensteinVeto.pdf Frankenstein Veto - an example of Jim Doyle using line item veto on the Wisconsin budget]
-[[category:United States Government]]

Difference between revisions of "Line-item veto"

Revision as of 18:56, October 17, 2008

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