While nobody wants to put it this way, the line-item veto would allow Bush to cherry pick legislation passed by Congress, getting rid of what he didn't like. In the 6-3 decision to overturn the line-item veto in 1998, Justice Stevens warned Congress of the impact of this executive privilege on the separation of powers, noting, “If the Line Item Veto Act were valid, it would authorize the president to create a different law—one whose text was not voted on by either House of Congress or presented to the president for signature."

Village Voice Article