September 08, 2010 The line-item veto is picking up steam, with 13 additional Senate co-sponsors being added over the recess.
The measure, introduced by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), has nearly 20 co-sponsors — and some Republicans are pushing to see the idea included in the GOP's political blueprint for winning back Congress.
"After spearheading this issue my entire Senate career, I am proud of this legislation that allows any president to strike out egregious earmarks and wasteful spending and the momentum building around it," McCain said. "Our line-item veto proposal will enable some much needed fiscal restraint and help to end the abuse of the American taxpayer dollar in pork-laden legislation."
The new senators who have signed on to the bill are: Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Ensign (R-Nev.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mark Warner (D-Va).
President Barack Obama indicated his support of the modified line-item veto earlier this spring, and all three chief sponsors cited the call for action from the White House as significant in getting the bill through the Senate.
"I was pleased when President Obama got behind this effort to enact a line-item veto to go after wasteful spending. This recent surge of support in the Senate is helping move our bill closer to becoming law," Feingold said.
But even with this surge in support, the legislation would still need to win over dozens more senators — including appropriators who hold close the power of the purse and are loath to give up any spending authority to the president.
