THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 24, 1995 TAG: 9503240467
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
In a rare voluntary shift of power, the Senate voted Thursday night to give the president unprecedented control of the federal purse - the power to veto specific items in spending bills and certain future tax benefits.
The measure, part of the GOP's ``Contract With America,'' was approved on a 69-to-29 vote. It was supported by 50 Republicans and 19 Democrats.
The House approved a different version last month, and before the bill can be sent to President Clinton, who has said he will sign it, differences between the Senate and House versions must be resolved by a conference committee.
Whatever the shape of the bill that reaches Clinton's desk, it could produce a major power shift in Washington and create what even its most ardent supporters concede will be a political Pandora's box by giving the Democratic White House a far more potent say over the Republican agenda.
Rarely has the legislative branch willingly shifted power to the executive branch. But with the Senate vote, Congress is ready to cede to the president, at least temporarily, one of its most jealously guarded rights - the power of the purse.
It is odd by any standard of politics that a Congress controlled by one party would give such a powerful political tool to a president representing another. But the Republicans appeared to be willing to take that political gamble for several reasons, not least of which is that they expect a Republican to be in the White House in 1997.
They also think they stand to gain more than they would lose by co-opting the president in their efforts to achieve the deficit reduction that they believe the American people want.
Michael D. McCurry, the White House spokesman, said earlier Thursday night that Clinton was ``delighted'' with the expected Senate action, ``and he looks forward to Congress' completing work on a bill that he can sign so we can use the line-item veto and go to work cutting the budget.''
Advocates of the line-item veto hailed it as an indispensable tool in curbing wasteful spending and taming Congress' impulse to supply its constituencies with pork.
``It'll put additional pressure on us to review and defend (our) special projects and new programs before we send the legislation to the White House,'' said Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan.
``Let's be direct about it,'' said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., ``what we're trying to do here is take a large carving knife to congressional pork.''
But opponents, led by Sens. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and Sam Nunn, D-Ga., said it will transfer too much power to the president and invite executive-branch abuses of Congress' role in setting national priorities.
``No matter what pretty face is put on this hydra-headed monster,'' Byrd fumed, ``it will lead to a massive shift of power over the purse from the legislative to the executive branch. No self-respecting member of Congress should participate in this emasculation of the Constitution.''
Nunn argued that many individual projects in spending bills are lumped into larger line-items, making it possible to hide pork-barrel pets - and impossible for the president to ferret them out and veto them.
``The likely effect will be to drive the pork into underground shelters where it will be hidden from scrutiny,'' the Georgian said.
Under the House version of the legislation, the president, after signing an appropriations bill, could rescind or cancel specific items within 10 days. He could also strike any items in a tax bill that did not affect more than 100 taxpayers.
But the Senate, concerned about the constitutionality of that approach, approved legislation that would break all the provisions in new spending measures into separate bills, which the president could then accept or reject individually. Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, the majority leader, sponsored the Senate version.
Both versions of the line-item veto allow Congress to override the president, but only with a two-thirds majority vote by both houses. And the Senate version includes a sunset provision that gives the president the line-item veto power for only five years. MEMO: HOW THEY VOTED
A ``yes'' vote is a vote in favor of the line-item veto.
John W. Warner, R-Va.Yes
Charles S. Robb, D-Va.Yes
Jesse A. Helms, R-N.C.Yes
Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C.Yes
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BILL - AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
A panel now must resolve differences with a house bill passes last
month. Clinton has said he'll OK the compromise.
The bill could cause a major power shift and give the Democratic
White House say over the Republican agenda.
Why would Republicans cede power to a Democrat? To help cut the
deficit. And the GOP expects to win the presidency in 1996. by CNB