Bush asks for line-item veto

WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush on Monday said Congress should pass a line-item veto for the president to exercise on spending bills.

Bush, speaking at the White House swearing in of Edward Lazear as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, pointed out that 43 governors have such a veto and "it's time to bring this important tool for fiscal discipline to Washington D.C."

Congress granted the president a line-item veto in 1997, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the following year that it was unconstitutional. Bush said the legislation he proposes would pass Supreme Court muster.

"Today, I'm sending Congress legislation that will meet standards and gives me authority to strip special spending and earmarks out of a bill and then send them back to Congress for an up-or-down vote," Bush said.

"By passing this version of the line-item veto, the administration will work with Congress to reduce wasteful spending. Reduce the budget deficit and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely."

U.S. House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said rather than seek a line-item veto the president should submit a balanced budget