Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

Not that any more evidence that Sen. John McCain’s “move to the right” just before the election was more fake than Meg Ryan’s orgasm in When Harry Met Sally is necessary, but…

…McCain has been so impressed with President Obama’s move to the center that he’s working to help him out as best he can:

A bipartisan group of senators said Tuesday that they expect President Obama to back their bill granting him a watered down version of the line-item veto.

The senators expect Obama to reiterate his support for “enhanced rescission” as the power is officially known in his 2012 budget request due out Feb. 14.

Bill sponsors Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) said they have discussed their the Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act with the administration and noted that last May, Obama expressed support for this type of power. It would enable him to eliminate earmarks and other wasteful spending from appropriations bills.
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An actual line-item veto, with which the president can selectively strike provisions from a bill without vetoing it entirely, has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Under “enhanced rescission,” the president would be able to specify wasteful spending items he wants cut from a recently passed spending bill. His rescission package would be given a fast-tracked up-or-down vote in Congress under the new legislation.

Earlier in Obama’s presidency John McCain and his eHarmony.com soul-mate Russ Feingold tried to give Obama the same thing. Frankly it’s a little surprising that McCain hasn’t tried to figure out a way to allow Obama to add things to bills that hit his desk instead of just the ability to cross things off.

A few days ago, John McCain said that he wouldn’t endorse any candidates in the 2012 presidential election, but he’s endorsing one every day without perhaps even knowing it.

**Written by Doug Powers

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