Give us the line-item veto!

Wisconsin has it. Representative Clifford Stearns (R-FL) wants the president to have it. It's called the line-item veto. It (H. J. Res. 77) gives the president the authority to "reduce or disapprove any appropriation or authorization of new direct spending in any bill presented by Congress." In other words, the president (any and all presidents) would be able to reduce or elminate any spending in any bill presented to him.

In this system, the president would have to take full responsibility for all spending approved, and therefore for all deficits. As it is, he has the option of either passing the whole pork-barrel-laden piece of garbage, or not passing a budget at all.

This would require an amendment to the Constitution. It would be nice, but don't count on it.