Gov. Perry Urges Congress to Grant the President Line Item Veto Authority

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today joined several governors and advocates of spending restraint in urging Congress to grant the President of the United States line-item veto authority.

“Line item veto authority is an important taxpayer protection, whether you are talking about the federal budget or state budget,” Perry said. “The line-item veto is a critical tool in eliminating wasteful spending – especially when an entire spending bill doesn’t merit a full veto.”

Perry, who has vetoed nearly six times as much proposed spending as the last four governors combined, decried how special interest, pork barrel projects get added to appropriations bills, leaving President Bush only a take-it-or-leave-it option.

“If Congress wants to get serious about spending restraint, and not just talk the talk, they will allow President Bush to carve out wasteful spending from bills without having to veto wise expenditures,” Perry said. “The need for this presidential authority is clear: Congress added 10,000 earmarks to appropriations bills in 2006 – which left taxpayers with a $29 billion tab – and federal spending on pork projects has increased nine-fold in the past 15 years.”

“Every government expenditure should stand on its merits and be justified on its own,” Perry said. “Line-item veto authority to cut federal spending is long overdue, and will go a long way toward reining in out-of-control federal spending.”