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House Budget Committee leaders Paul Ryan and Chris Van Hollen team up to turn Congress from 'do-nothings' to 'do somethings' on unnecessary government...
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As -- Bosnia can be good nice to say Democrat Republican sitting down again and what happens -- -- we don't see often on TV.
We talk about the building introduced today at least I would do for -- Holland the line item veto explain what that is and -- black you explain the bill.
Well this is an important measure to try and increase accountability for congress when it comes to spending so the way it works is this.
If congress passes a big appropriations bill that has lots of stuff stuffed into it.
The president can say I don't really think we need to spend money on this item in this item in this item.
And this will require congress -- to act on the recommendations of the presents for cut that he wants to cut.
So right now a lot of people try and stuff you know.
Special you know provisions and it is -- spending bills and this will provide greater accountability oversight.
Scrutiny as it stands now without the line item veto if the president gets this big bill from congress looks let's say as a whole bunch of fat and it's sort of even some silly practiced.
He has to accept or reject it I think he can't just -- that pain that we shouldn't -- that's that this brings it.
Back to nearly you know clearly it's not taken -- -- the entire bill what happens is at the eleventh hour in both parties and on this.
They stuff these provisions -- at the eleventh hour the -- museum remember that one.
That came in an eleventh -- needs to take that along with all the rest of the things that are necessary -- this tool lets the president pull that piece of pork out.
Senate back to congress and then we have to vote up or down on it on its -- -- can't -- the vote we can amend it.
And so what this will duel help embarrass pork out of these bills.
They'll help make members think twice about talking these things -- -- those at the last minute so we think it's sort of a tool embarrassment and isn't gonna solve all our fiscal problems.
Has now been -- the culture -- wasteful Washington spending that has seeped into the process by both political parties we banned earmarks here in congress this year.
We think this takes it a step further of going after just a lot of the ways that it's tough to of these bills at the last minute.
Right now this is as in many people around cost about on that -- -- found.
There was a line item veto case of that we -- with us debt before -- was -- -- went to the Supreme Court and I was -- does unconstitutional.
How is this -- different from that earlier run where it was declared unconstitutional that -- at.
Well it's different for this reason Paul and I both agreed that the earlier Supreme Court decision was correct.
Because what happened there was congress would send the president a spending bill in the congress has the power of the purse.
Under the old line item veto provisions the president could say okay I don't wanna spend money on this site.
And I don't wanna spend that money on that item without further.
Action by congress what this does is the president has to pull out -- items should he or she doesn't wanna spend money on.
But then congress -- -- -- -- -- congress set a big difference what's called expedited procedure meaning.
-- has to come up for vote as Paul said it's an up or down vote.
On this item spending that the executive has now said we don't need the federal government should not be spending money on this thing so.
It's gonna be -- a lot of members are gonna think twice upfront.
Before they ask for -- spending item that they don't think they can defend under the full light of day.
Let's look at this and -- really good idea suddenly go to you since your house -- runs via house represented is trying to.
Is that this was this -- parallels a bill in the senate that was soundness that was passed in the last January right right so so what took you -- so I mean why -- I -- like I.
I because -- American people and awful big hurry to get things done this seems like a wise way to look at spending so why should take -- -- you to catch.
Shot pass this in 2005 less time where we are in the majority of them have died in the senate.
-- we are seeking to pass this this session.
We have partners in the senate both Republicans and Democrats were in favor of this so we think we have -- very good chance of doing -- and in the White House heavily does support this so.
We think the planets have aligned themselves -- we can get this done because in the past either the house president dies in the senate or the senate president dies -- a house like that was the case last session.
We think this time we get it lined up.
What it takes its January they did this or did you like pork barrel spending and people like the idea and some members of congress.
Being able to talk -- spending provisions in these bills.
Without having to justify them on their own merits and that system which is part of the corrosive culture of spending up here.
Propagated by both political parties is one that we just can't afford anymore and so.
We believe we've got the momentum on our side we've been fighting for this kind of accountability for long time.
And we think the time has come -- -- -- are pushing it now.
What what's going on appear -- -- -- seem like American people think that they missed.
Just aren't getting -- makes it all the fight even on the one hands -- it's nice to see democracy of people but to argue their positions.
But is gone to such a point where.
You know big nation really is an economic crisis and we're just sort of like we've gone from Simpson Bowles have gone to that the deficit debt the boat -- August that we get the super committee and why can't things get them.
Well -- obviously part of this is as a result of deep disagreements on some policy issues but I would hope.
That we are able to come together and compromise on some issues I think this measure what we both agree is that gonna solve the deficit problem.
It's an important set up I mean it's important substantively it's important symbolically.
To take this kind of action.
Again I hope that were able to work -- out some of the other pressing issues right now I think we should extend a payroll tax.
Holiday -- given the fragile economy I think we should extend unemployment compensation.
And we'll have those debates and maybe we'll find agreement on some of those issues.
-- president we're pleased that we're able -- and that other enhancement and I -- see that and is taking an off camera with severe sausage guys like each other -- other members cash and not -- -- I think the American people need to see that but it's you know it's very frustrated for these things that are so important -- say cancer breakthrough that would -- that barrier is to get things on even -- even though people have the -- strong ideology.
Is it the American people are saying I -- -- like you know we're desperate you know to do something this.
Of the -- reason like Chris and I are doing this -- he and I have a top Republican Democrats on the Budget Committee.
We agree on this.
So we wanted to show that were not always cities are at each other's throats every time that there are things we don't work together we can agree on and get things done.
Assume the reason why we're doing this now of -- times -- -- nice to see that every now and then that's what we're doing this but he gave assistance here -- Yeah we -- probably get resistance from folks on both sides of that -- -- and out people who like to write spending those are typically the people resist these kinds of reforms.
But is it going to people who have their pet projects that are gonna objectors or some overriding ideology that is there any key reason beyond sort of like a lot -- -- thing in the bill.
Is there any other objection to it.
Good typical objections.
The right of the people who write these bills -- discretionary appropriation bills like having the ultimate a lot of discretion.
With.
With which how they write those bills and we want to limit that discretion to having more sunshine more accountability.
-- this kind of a tool which can embarrass.
The wasteful spending that is putting of these bills and the folks that.
Don't like it are typically those who want all total discretion and and we just think that that's been of these too much right and.
In the old objection of course the original line item veto was you're giving the executive branch and present.
Too much authority not because.
The president gets to decide of all the items that congress said that wanted to invest and spend money on which ones he or she would not.
That what this is why this is different is it comes back to congress but congress can no longer -- this issue now.
Congress passed a vote on whether or not to keep these proposed spending items as part of the bill so.
Again there will be resistance but I think in the end of the day we'll get me.
The surprise of congress keeps department first legislative branch like the Constitution Center so I love about big things -- are gonna market up this year probably have a vote next year.
Meaning that seems so long lessons extra weight is -- some -- Evernote I.
You know what I'm probably in February or January well will be watching and we'll come back we'll -- the names of those who don't like it had them -- means yes actually yeah.
Just -- -- thank you both.
