Line-item option effects unknown

By JON FEINBERG
Collegian Staff Writer

For years the presidential line-item veto has been just another catch phrase that popped up in only the most hearty of political discussions.

And although it may not be the hottest topic of discussion in an average State College barroom, the line-item veto has created quite a stir in Washington, D.C.

Both houses of the GOP-led Congress have introduced and passed legislation that would give the president the power to veto individual spending items in appropriations bills.

Proponents of the line-item veto, which is a component of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in the Republicans' "Contract With America," have said the measure will allow the president to cut down on pork-barrel spending -- pet spending projects that many legislators sneak into appropriations bills. Many people argue that cutting pork-barrel spending will help reduce the federal deficit.

However, some local analysts doubt the measure will be a proper means to accomplish such lofty goals.

"The bottom line is that cutting some pork here . . . just doesn't add up to that much," said James Curtis, assistant professor of political science. "I personally don't foresee a lot happening."

A potential problem with the line-item veto is that there is no proof that the president is inclined to cut pork-barrel spending, Curtis said.

"I don't know that we can assume that the president is more committed to cutting the budget than Congress," he said.

Marie Hojnacki, assistant professor of political science, agrees that there are questions to be raised about the president's ability to cut spending with the line-item veto.

"The president responds to constituencies in similar ways that members of Congress do," Hojnacki said. It will not be easy for him to reduce the budget so it would just contain the bare necessities, she said.

And although she said that the line-item veto will limit some pork-barrel spending, Hojnacki said she is concerned that Congress cannot control spending itself.

"They're like children looking for someone to make them behave," she said.

Despite the negatives associated with the line-item veto, students on both sides of the partisan line welcome the change.

"It's something that's been long overdue," said Mike Schiano, vice president of the College Democrats. When the line-item veto is used, it will limit how much politicians cater to local interests through pork-barrel spending, he said.

However, Schiano said he is concerned by the fact that a Republican Congress is giving such a powerful tool to a Democratic president.

"(Congress) can turn it around and make it very political," he said. If the president does not veto certain items, he said, it is possible that Congress will blame him for excessive spending.

Some people believe that Congress' motivation for passing the line-item veto is related to future expectations.

"I guess they feel eventually a Republican president will be in office and it will be of use to him," said Eileen Grimm, president of the College Republicans.

But, regardless of the president's party affiliation, Grimm said the line-item veto will allow the president to accomplish the goals for which he was elected.

"I think it will give him an opportunity to do what he wanted to do when he got into office," she said.

However, before the president gets to use the line-item veto, the legislation must proceed through Congress.

Chris Krese, press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bill Clinger, R-Warren, said the bill is currently being discussed in conference committee.

Clinger, who is chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, sponsored the U.S. House of Representatives version of the bill and will lead the House conference committee in debate with the U.S. Senate.