The Democrats aren't going to cave on the Line Item Veto in order to get their Ethics Reform Bill

[in_cog_ni_to]

passed, are they? SURELY they won't be making any freakin' deals on this giving the psycho the power of the Line Item Veto...will they? This is how the repukes succeed in killing the Ethic Reform Bill. The bastard already has his own personal Line Item Veto with his signing statements. I suspect the repukes will be throwing the Line Item Veto up for the next 2 years and NOTHING will be accomplished by the Senate.:( I cannot express to you how much I DETEST the repukes. They don't give a crap about this country.

[BlooInBloo]

1. lol! Of course not. Hence the WaPo headline.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. What was the WP headline? Care to share?

Thanks. :hi:

[kentuck]

2. It would be a helluva issue if the Repubs stop ethics reform...

Let them. :)

[BlooInBloo]

3. Um, they did.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/01/senate-republicans-stop-ethics-reform.html

[kentuck]

4. Thanks for the update...Reid has explained it well..

"And all 21 Republican senators up for reelection are going to have to explain how they brought down the most significant reform ever to come before this Congress. They brought this baby down."

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Ummm....but the Democrats DIDN'T cave in and give them their damn Line Item Veto.

That's my question. Does anyone think the Dems will ever let the psycho have that power? The repukes WILL kill every freakin' bill they don't like by throwing the Line Item Veto amendment up. Surely the Democrats will NEVER cave in and let them have their way? That's my question.

[BlooInBloo]

8. That's why I said "of course not".

[Hosnon]

7. It's not up to the Democrats (or anyone in Congress, for that matter).

The Line Item Veto was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1998:

"There is no provision in the Constitution that authorizes the President to enact, to amend, or to repeal statutes.

* * *
If the Line Item Veto Act were valid, it would authorize the President to create a different law - one whose text was not voted on by either House of Congress or presented to the President for signature."

Clinton v. City of New York 524 U.S. 417

Edit: Reinstatement of the Line Item Veto Act (or something similar) requires either an amendment or a change in the Court's interpretation of the Constitution (coupled with a fully litigated case).