[jwparkerjr]

If I couild wave a magic wand and bring about any single change in Washington, DC, it would be to put an end to being able to attach bills to other bills as a method of forcing passage of unpopular measures. If the great American experiment in government ever fails its demise will have a thousand fathers, but this legislative trick will be an important one.

A bill should be on one subject, and one subject only. If an idea or proposal can’t make it on its own then it shouldn’t make it all. I have no doubt there have been some some bills that I would have approved of at the time, but it seems to me that every time this trick is brought out it’s to further passage of a liberal scheme or idea.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Wave that wand to get rid of all political correctness all over the world!

[JoanneSD]

I believe the line item veto would take care of these add on bills...I am not sure, but I think that President Bush, does not have that luxury..of having the line items veto..

[supercat]

If I couild wave a magic wand and bring about any single change in Washington, DC, it would be to put an end to being able to attach bills to other bills as a method of forcing passage of unpopular measures.

A related problem is the committee process. While the necessity of getting bills through committee before they reach the floor has at times been a good thing, it gives more power to people on those committees to load legislation with garbage. While the Constitution does not allow the President to alter a bill and then sign the altered version into law without the consent of Congress, I wouldn't see any Constitutional problem with Congressional rules allowing the president to request that his altered version of a bill he vetoes be put for a straight up/down vote in the House and Senate.