line-item veto

[ lahyn-ahy-tuhm ]

noun

1. the power of the executive to veto particular items of a bill without having to veto the entire bill.

line-item veto

1. The authority of an executive to veto a specific appropriation in a budget passed by a legislature. Viewing the line-item veto as an effective tactic against pork-barrel legislation , presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush unsuccessfully sought this authority, which many state governors possess, from Congress . Under current law the president must choose between signing or vetoing the entire budget rather than parts (items on budget lines) of it.

Example Sentences

Kelly’s line-item veto leaves in place $5 million for school safety grants but deletes specific wording that she said would have essentially converted the program “into a no-bid contract” by eliminating “nearly all potential competition.”

From Seattle Times

Franken has contacted the Kansas governor’s office in hopes she will line-item veto the specific criteria, which he said “create a kind of anti-competitive environment.”

From Seattle Times

Separately, a final House concurrence vote sent a $10.2 billion budget plan for the coming fiscal year to the governor for consideration and possible line-item vetoes.

From Seattle Times

DeSantis has a reputation for the vengeful use of his budget line-item veto power and the Republican-dominated Legislature has shown a willingness to do what he wants.

From Seattle Times

Mr. DeSantis, speaking in Coralville, also said Congress should pass a balanced budget with the help of a president’s line-item veto power that could erase items without blocking entire spending bills.

From Washington Times