Obama tells Republicans he’s ready to work with them on changes to budget process
By APFriday, January 29, 2010
Obama supports line-item veto for spending bills
BALTIMORE — President Barack Obama says he is willing to work with Republicans to create a process allowing the president to veto specific parts of spending bills.
Obama on Friday told a GOP retreat that every president would love to have the ability to nix lines of the budget. Obama says the line-item veto is something he’s ready to work with Congress to make into law.
Obama says it would be ideal if both parties showed restraint on spending for pet projects, so the line-item veto wouldn’t be needed. Obama says he’s amused that members of Congress decry “wasteful spending” outside their districts — but are silent on their own pet projects.
He says those so-called earmarks are not unique to either party.
