white_wolf
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:17 PM
Original message |
|
This was discussed in my political science class today and I was just curious to know if you all think the president should have line-item veto power? I'm not sure about it, it could be useful, but I'm worried it could be easily abused especially in budgetary matters.
|
rug
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:20 PM
Response to Original message |
1. It's legislation by pen. |
TheWraith
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:22 PM
Response to Original message |
2. It all depends who's in the White House... |
|
...but you can bet your ass the first right winger who got into office would immediately line-item veto anything and everything they vaguely disliked: school lunches, Head Start, hell the entire fucking Department of Education. Healthcare, disaster relief, etcetera. Democrats typically don't operate that way because our guys know that being a psychotic asshole isn't a solution. So a line-item veto would favor the Republicans.
|
pwb
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:27 PM
Response to Original message |
3. The republicans are in favor of it for a republican president but not for a democratic president. |
|
Remember how they all wanted it for bush?. Today not so much talk of it.
|
white_wolf
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:31 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
4. Well they did pass a law in 1996 giving the president line-item veto power over budgetary matters |
|
but the SCOTUS ruled it was unconstitutional.
|
joeybee12
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
rurallib
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:37 PM
Response to Original message |
5. Our governor used it to slash some huge funds from education this year. |
|
I used to ask my congress critter - the so-called highly respected Jim Leach who was highly in favor of line item veto - just what his job would be if they gave legislating by veto to the President? 8 years later I still await a serious answer.
The first time I asked him he looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights and tried to just skip over it. It was like he had never even given it consideration.
I am against it in general and think that if the founders had wanted to give that power to the executive, they would have. This is hardly a new concept.
|
KamaAina
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:39 PM
Response to Original message |
6. It would work best for a repuke President faced with a Dem Congress |
|
rather than the other way around. So no.
|
Motown_Johnny
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:42 PM
Response to Original message |
|
and I share your worries about how easy it would be to abuse that power
|
struggle4progress
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
|
Fri Sep-16-11 05:44 PM
Response to Original message |
9. Ask yourself how it would be used. It would represent a gigantic increase in Presidential power. |
|
Right now, all those "line items" represent horse-trades between the various members of Congress. Line item veto would make the Oval Office the final arbiter of the deals:
Congressman A: I'll vote for X if you vote for Y Congressman B: Done! ... later ... The President: Congressman A gets X, and Congressman B gets nothing!
The President would be able to veto every project for Congressman B's district until Congressman B stopped criticizing him and so on
Really bad idea IMO
|
DU
AdBot (1000+ posts) |
Wed Apr 24th 2024, 02:41 PM
Response to Original message |