The first known line-item veto bill was introduced in Congress during the 1870s and there were more than 200 attempts to pass it before it was approved last year.
The second item the political system prefers to target as a bill-payer in defense downturns is the actual production of weapons, because political impacts tend to be localized even when the programs employ thousands of workers.
To cut costs and keep better track of sales, more hoteliers are installing automated minibars equipped with sensors that know when an item has been removed, immediately charging a guest's bill.
One item that's dropped off the agenda is the Report and Third Reading stages of the Energy Bill - the "green deal" which will allow people to fund energy saving home improvements from the savings to their gas and electricity bills.