The Line-Item Scam

President Bush, who has never vetoed anything as President, is launching an offensive to get Congress to enact a line-item veto. Nice sleight-of-hand trick, W. Use the illusion of fiscal responsibility to further cement executive power. Crafty. I used to be for the line-item veto, before I was against it. Brian Doherty makes the best case yet for rejecting this fake reform:

A presidential line-item veto would give presidents the less-benevolent power (which Clinton was thought to have tried to use at least once when he had it) to lean on individual legislators to get what they want. That is, the threat to kill a precious earmark in exchange for going along on some other matter.

i.e. vote for an extension of No Child Left Behind or I'm vetoing all earmarks to your state.