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Line Item Veto Act

Became Public Law No: 104-130.

Official summary

Version 48 · Conference report filed in House · Mar 21, 1996

Line Item Veto Act - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to cancel in whole any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, any item of new direct spending, or any limited tax benefit signed into law, if the President: (1) determines that such cancellation will reduce the Federal budget deficit and will not impair essential Government functions or harm the national interest; and (2) notifies the Congress of any such cancellation within five calendar days after enactment of the law providing such amount, item, or benefit. Requires the President, in identifying cancellations, to consider legislative histories and information referenced in law. Provides that the President's authority shall not apply to any cancellation contained in an enacted disapproval bill (a bill or joint resolution of prescribed language which only disapproves one or more cancellations contained in a special message transmitted by the President). Directs the President, for each law from which a cancellation has been made, to transmit to the Congress a single special message identifying the amounts, items, and benefits cancelled and setting forth: (1) the President's determinations under this Act; (2) the reasons for the cancellation; (3) the estimated fiscal, economic, budgetary, and program effects; (4) the adjustments to discretionary spending limits and effects upon the sequestration procedures; and (5) with respect to the cancellation of any such amount or item, information on the affected Government entities, States, and congressional districts. Requires such special message to be transmitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate within five days after enactment of the law to which the cancellation applies. Makes any such cancellation effective on the date the special message is received in the House and Senate. Makes such cancellations that are disapproved by an enacted disapproval bill null and void. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to: (1) estimate the reduction in Federal budget authority and outlays that result from such a cancellation, including reductions to discretionary spending limits for each fiscal year; (2) estimate the deficit decrease that will result from such cancellation; and (3) reduce the Federal spending caps by the amount of such estimated reduction (after the expiration of the time period for congressional consideration of a disapproval bill, plus ten days). Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to submit to the Senate and House Budget Committees an estimate of the reduction in budget authority and outlays resulting from a cancellation for each outyear. Outlines procedures and provides 30 days for the expedited congressional consideration of disapproval bills for cancellations in special messages received from the President. Defines a "limited tax benefit" as: (1) any revenue-losing provision which provides a Federal tax deduction, credit, exclusion, or preference to 100 or fewer beneficiaries; and (2) any Federal tax provision change which provides temporary or permanent transitional relief for ten or fewer beneficiaries. Specifies exceptions. Directs the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to: (1) review any revenue or reconciliation bill or joint resolution which includes any amendment to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) that is being prepared by a conference committee; (2) identify whether such bill or resolution contains any limited tax benefit; and (3) provide to the conference committee a statement identifying any limited tax benefit. Allows any revenue or reconciliation bill or joint resolution that amends the IRC and is reported by a conference committee to include as a separate section the information contained in the statement of the JCT. Limits the President's benefit cancellation authority to those benefits that are identified in such a statement or that meet the definition under this Act. Prohibits the judicial review of the identification of a limited tax benefit in a conference report. Provides for: (1) expedited review by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of an action brought by a Member of Congress or an adversely affected individual on the ground that any provision of this Act violates the Constitution; (2) review of an order of such Court by appeal directly to the Supreme Court; and (3) expedited disposition of such matter by the Supreme Court. Makes this Act effective on the earlier of: (1) the day after the enactment of an Act to provide for a seven-year plan for deficit reduction and to achieve a balanced Federal budget; or (2) January 1, 1997. Terminates this Act on or after January 1, 2005.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS] · R–KS

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  • Budget Committee
29 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Became Public Law No: 104-130.

  2. Became Public Law No: 104-130.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H2972-2986)

  9. Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H2972-2986)

  10. Mr. Clinger brought up conference report H. Rept. 104-491 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 391.

  11. House agreed to conference report pursuant to H. Res. 391.

  12. Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report pursuant to H. Res. 391.

  13. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  14. Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 69-31. Record Vote No: 56. (consideration: CR S2995)

    Senate roll call 56 · Individual votes
  15. Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 69-31. Record Vote No: 56.(consideration: CR S2995)

    Senate roll call 56 · Individual votes
  16. Motion to recommit conference report tabled in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 58-42. Record Vote No: 55. (consideration: CR S2978)

    Senate roll call 55 · Individual votes
  17. Motion to recommit conference report with instructions entered in Senate.

  18. Conference report considered in Senate.

  19. Conference report H. Rept. 104-491 filed. (text of conference report: CR H2640-2652)

  20. Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 104-491 filed.(text of conference report: CR H2640-2652)

  21. Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement and official papers held at the desk in Senate.

  22. Conferees agreed to file conference report.

  23. Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.

  24. On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 381 - 44 (Roll no. 736). (consideration: CR H10773-10779)

    House roll call 736 · Individual votes
  25. DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to instruct conferees on the part of the House to insist upon the inclusion of provisions to require that the bill apply to the targeted tax benefit provisions of any revenue or reconciliation bill enacted into law during fiscal year 1995.

  26. Mr. Deutsch moved that the House instruct conferees.

  27. Mr. Deutsch announced his intention to offer a motion on October 25, 1995, to instruct conferees on the part of the House to insist upon the inclusion of provisions to require that the bill apply to the targeted tax benefit provisions of any revenue or reconciliation bill enacted into law during fiscal year 1995.

  28. Conference held.

  29. Conference committee actions: Conference held.

  30. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  31. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  32. The Speaker appointed conferees: Clinger, Solomon, Bunning, Goss, Blute, Collins (IL), Sabo, and Beilenson.

  33. On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H8608)

  34. The previous question was ordered without objection.

  35. DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Wise motion to instruct conferees to make the bill applicable to current and subsequent fiscal year appropriation measures.

  36. Mr. Wise moved that the House instruct conferees.

  37. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  38. On motion that the House insist upon its amendments, and agree to a conference Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H8605)

  39. The previous question was ordered without objection.

  40. DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion.

  41. Mr. Clinger moved that the House insist upon its amendments, and agree to a conference.

  42. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  43. Senate disagreed to House amendments requested conference and appointed conferees. Stevens; Roth; Thompson; Cochran; McCain; Glenn; Levin; Pryor; Sarbanes; Domenici; Grassley; Nickles; Gramm; Coats; Exon; Hollings; Johnston; Dodd. (consideration: CR S8717)

  44. Message on House action received in Senate and at the desk: House amendments to Senate bill.

  45. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  46. The title of the measure was amended to that of similar measure H.R. 2. Agreed to without objection.

  47. On passage Passed without objection.

  48. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

  49. The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 2.

  50. Considered by motion. (consideration: CR H5090-5097)

  51. On motion to consider Agreed to by voice vote.

  52. The previous question on the motion was ordered pursuant to a previous order of the house

  53. DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous unanimous consent agreement, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to take the bill, S. 4, from the Speaker's table, strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu the text of H.R. 2, as passed by the House.

  54. Mr. Clinger moved to take S. 4 from the Speaker's table, and to strike all after the enacting clause of the Senate bill, and insert the text of H.R. 450 as passed by the House.

  55. Mr. Clinger asked unanimous consent that it be in order to consider in the House a motion to take from the Speaker's table the bill S. 4, to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the text of H.R. 2, as passed by the House; that the motion be debatable for not to exceed one hour; and that the previous question be ordered on the motion to final adoption without intervening motion except for one motion to commit. Agreed to without objection.

  56. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 147 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 4 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Making in order a motion to take the bill from the Speaker's table, and to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the text of H.R. 2 as passed by the House.

  57. Held at the desk.

  58. Received in the House.

  59. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  60. Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 69-29. Record Vote No: 115.

    Senate roll call 115 · Individual votes
  61. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 69-29. Record Vote No: 115.

    Senate roll call 115 · Individual votes
  62. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4409-4486)

  63. The first and second cloture motions on SP 347 were vitiated by Unanimous Consent.

  64. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4301-4358)

  65. Second cloture motion on amendment SP 347 presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4212)

  66. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4210, S4212-4260, S4293)

  67. Cloture motion on SP 347 presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4196)

  68. The reported Budget Committee amendments were withdrawn in Senate.

  69. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4187-4196)

  70. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 26.

  71. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Roth without recommendation without amendment. With written report No. 104-13. Additional views filed.

  72. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Roth without recommendation without amendment. With written report No. 104-13. Additional views filed.

  73. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment without recommendation.

  74. Committee on Budget. Reported to Senate by Senator Domenici without recommendation with amendments. With written report No. 104-9. Additional and minority views filed.

  75. Committee on Budget. Reported to Senate by Senator Domenici without recommendation with amendments. With written report No. 104-9. Additional and minority views filed.

  76. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-391.

  77. Committee on Budget. Ordered to be reported with amendments without recommendation.

  78. Committee on Budget. Hearings held.

  79. Read twice and referred jointly to the Committees on Budget; Governmental Affairs pursuant to the order of August 4, 1977, with instructions that if one Committee reports, the other Committee have thirty days to report or be discharged.

  80. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S97)

  81. Introduced in Senate

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