WASHINGTON — A plan to make Congress vote on spending cuts for projects or programs that President Barack Obama says are wasteful is gaining momentum in the Senate.

Fourteen Democrats and Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman have joined Republican Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in sponsoring legislation giving Obama the right to propose removing objectionable items from spending bills he otherwise approves of. The president could then send his package of spending cuts back to Congress for a mandatory vote to either accept or reject them.

The measure is a weaker version of the line-item veto power possessed by most governors and briefly enjoyed by former President Bill Clinton in the 1990s — before the Supreme Court ruled it was an unconstitutional infringement on Congress’ power.