FreedomWorks “Key-Votes” Line-Item Veto Act of 2006

Dear Representative,

On behalf of more than 800,000 FreedomWorks members nationwide, I write to urge you to VOTE YES on H.R. 4890, the Legislative Line-Item Veto. This important bill provides a needed tool to reduce Congress’ wasteful spending of taxpayers’ dollars, cutting the deficit and stopping unneeded pork projects. The House needs to pass this legislation to help the president help Congress regain fiscal control

The voters are fed up with Congress’s run away spending, and FreedomWorks stands behind their call for fiscal discipline and more transparency. Pork projects have risen 900% since 1991. In 2006 alone, Congress added 10,000 earmarks to its appropriations bills at a cost of $29 billion to taxpayers. While the president could do more during the legislative process to identify pork-legislation that he wants cut, once the bill reaches his desk under current law he may only veto the bill as a whole and not individual superfluous items.

Introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan, this legislation enjoys bi-partisan support with 100 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. This tool is currently granted to governors in 43 states. While it is true that an earlier and different version of this power was found unconstitutional on the federal level by the Supreme Court in 1998, this new legislation addresses the criticism of the court. Their concern over maintaining Congressional “power of the purse” is recognized and maintained in Rep. Ryan’s legislation by sending the president’s proposed rescissions back to both chambers for an up-or-down vote before any items can be cut.

This legislation allows the president to hold Congress accountable for their spending. FreedomWorks will also hold you accountable by counting your vote on the Line-Item Veto as a KEY VOTE when calculating the FreedomWorks Economic Scorecard. The FreedomWorks Economic Scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the Jefferson Award, which recognizes Representatives with voting records that support economic freedom.

Sincerely,

Matt Kibbe
President and CEO
FreedomWorks