Sens. Carper, McCain Reintroduce Line-Item Veto Legislation

Today, Sens. Carper (D-Del.) and McCain (R-Ariz.) reintroduced the Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act, legislation will give the president line-item veto authority to abate wasteful spending.

“This ‘budget scalpel’ will empower the president to make targeted cuts to trim the fat from spending bills and require Congress to hold an up or down vote on the president’s proposed cuts, providing additional transparency and accountability to the appropriations process,” Sen. Carper said in a statement released today.

Sen. McCain also said “our line-item veto proposal will enable some much needed fiscal restraint and help to end the abuse of the American taxpayer dollar in pork-laden legislation. I’m pleased that the president has changed his position and now recognizes the importance of the line-item veto.”

Obama To Sign Bill Reducing Penalties For Crack Cocaine

The House and the Senate have passed a bill that would make penatlies for carrying crack cocaine and powder cocaine more similar. Currently the law requirs any person arrested with crack cocaine must serve at least 5 years in federal prison. With powder cocaine, a person needs to be arrested with 500 grams of cocaine to receive 5 years in prison. For more on this story, click here

-Rob Sanna

Congress May Lift Ban On Internet Gambling, But Could Tax Winnings

The New York Times reports that Congress is considering lifing a ban on internet gambling that was put in place 4 years ago. Businesses that run online gambling would be taxed, as would winnings, similiar to how live gambling in casinos and other places is taxed. Supporters say the taxes can raise as much as $42 billion in the next 10 years…

-Rob Sanna