Thursday, June 8, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Meets with President Bush at White House; Supports his Request for Line Item Veto Authority
WASHINGTON, DC–Gov. Matt Blunt met with President George W. Bush and attended a White House news conference today to lend support to his effort to obtain line item veto authority over the federal budget.
In a meeting in the Roosevelt Room, Bush spoke with a bipartisan delegation of governors about their use of the line item veto and his need of it at the federal level.
“Americans hold their president accountable for federal spending and responsible stewardship of tax dollars,” Blunt said. “He needs the appropriate tools to control spending. Because of this I support President Bush’s efforts to secure line item veto authority and urge the Congress to respond to his request. The line item veto has been very useful to me as governor to help ensure that Missouri government lives within the taxpayers’ means.”
President Bush’s “Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006” is designed to control wasteful spending, reduce the federal budget deficit, and improve accountability. This legislation will help to limit spending and ensure accountability and transparency in the expenditure of taxpayer funds.
Blunt attended the news conference with Governors Riley (R-AL), Owens (R-CO), Bush (R-FL), Perdue (R-GA), Huckabee (R-AR), Blanco (D-LA) and Kaine (D-VA). All but seven of the nation’s governors have some form of line item veto authority.
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