Lawmakers approve official call for constitutional convention on presidential line-item veto

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers on Friday approved a resolution petitioning the U.S. for a constitutional convention to allow the president to execute a “line item veto.”

Such a veto is when the executive can veto parts of a bill while approving other parts.

It passed the Florida House of Representatives 78-30.

The resolution cites the “explosive growth of federal spending” and called for more budgetary authority for the president.

If enacted, the president could only cut spending, not increase it.

The House version of the resolution was brought by Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Riverview. The Senate’s resolution was brought by the Fiscal Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast.

The resolution additionally cites the federal budget not being balanced for “decades” and the national debt being over $34 trillion.

The Florida governor currently has the power to line item veto portions of appropriations packages. That power is afforded in a total of 44 states.

Congress had previously created such a power for the president, but the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court for being unconstitutional. Giving the president such a power requires a constitutional amendment.

The resolution calls for an Article V convention. This requires legislatures from at least two-thirds of the states.

Florida’s call for an Article V convention does not apply for any other proposal, the resolution stipulates. This is included so a convention is not triggered for any other purpose.