Blunt Backs Legislation to Curb Wasteful Government Spending, Allow for Public Debate

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation -- H.R. 1294, The Congressional Accountability and Line-Item Veto Act of 2009 -- introduced late yesterday to give the president authority to strike spending provisions from a bill without vetoing the entire legislation.

"I've supported similar efforts in the past and I can't think of a more appropriate time than now to force a level of fiscal responsibility in Washington," Blunt said. "It's time that Congress follows the example of hard-working American families and exercises some spending discipline. Everyone should support this legislation as a final backstop against wasteful and rash government spending."

The bill, Blunt said, allows Congress a chance to publicly review the merits of questionable programs or projects that are rejected by the president, therefore weeding out unfounded requests while allowing only necessary funding to remain intact.

This is the fifth time Blunt has sponsored such legislation. The current provision, if adopted, gives the president 30 days to omit spending requests from bills sent to the White House for his signature prior to becoming law. This process is known as a line-item veto.

If the president uses the new power to remove a funding provision from the bill, the House and Senate will have 12 days to approve the president's action or the funds will be released.

Specifically, the Line-Item Veto Act:
-- Ensures timely consideration by setting deadlines for action.
-- Maintains Congress's Constitutional "power of the purse" by requiring
the House and Senate to approve specific funding rescissions.
-- Limits the number or rescission requests Congress must act on to help
limit gridlock.
-- Expires at the end of 2014 so Congress can review the legislation
before renewing it.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Blunt Response to President Obama's Address

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt last night issued the following statement after President Barack Obama's first address to Congress:

"President Obama's first address was a historic milestone for our nation and his presidency.

"I couldn't agree more with his assessment that while our country is facing great challenges, we also have the opportunity for great successes. On the issue of health care, President Obama and I share the common goal of creating a system that is more affordable and more available to all Americans. I have and will continue to reach out to his Administration in my role as chairman of the House health care task force. The solution is not a government-run system that would ration our health care options but a plan that puts Americans in control by focusing on the patient-doctor relationship.

"President Obama also renewed his desire to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term. This is a worthy goal, but one that is at odds with the massive spending package he signed into law last week and at odds with the omnibus - or ominous - spending package the House will consider this week.

"But more important than anything President Obama says tonight is what the budget he unveils will look like. Tax hikes during a recession or budget gimmicks are not the answers our nation needs. American families are making tough decisions and exercising real fiscal responsibility. The government must exercise that same level of discipline and there is no better time to start than right now."

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Blunt Votes for Resolution Supporting Israel's Right to Protect Citizens

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt issued the following statement today after voting for a resolution to reaffirm the United States' ties with Israel and condemn the terrorist actions of Hamas:

"When Hamas, with the support of outside agitators, declared the end of a six-month ceasefire with Israel, they began this conflict. Israel's leaders had no choice but to defend their borders, their sovereignty and their citizens from violent border attacks and rocket fire by Hamas militants.

"The actions of Israel are nothing more than self-defense. It is unrealistic to expect Israel to stand idly by waiting for a terrorist organization to commit to another short-term ceasefire.

"I am hopeful that peace can return to the border between Israel and Gaza, but peace is only possible if Hamas ceases their continued and unprovoked attacks on Israeli civilians."

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page