Bush has vetoed a bill authorizing hundreds of important water related projects. This bill, like the SCHIP expansion, enjoyed strong bipartisan support and is highly popular. Unlike the last veto this bill looks to have the votes needed to hand Bush his first veto override. This bill passed the house and senate easily gathering 381-40 and 81-12 majorities respectively.

The bill was intended to authorize hundreds of projects to repair hurricane damage, restore wetlands, and improve the levees for New Orleans. Each of these key projects is years and years overdue, with the last such authorization taking place in 2000. By vetoing this bill Bush has endangered vital wetlands that play a key role in protecting our gulf states from hurricanes. In fact, the destruction of these wetlands is highly regarded as one of the key reasons Katrina did so much damage.

“Every day brings new evidence that President Bush is out of touch with the American people and their priorities,” said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. “More than two years after failing to respond to the devastation and destruction of Hurricane Katrina, he is refusing to fund important projects guided by the Army Corps of Engineers that are essential to protecting the people of the Gulf Coast region.” - CBSNews.com

According to Dana Perino Bush vetoed the bill because it was “fiscally irresponsible”. It is clear that this is just more partisan attacks intended to bash the Democratic controlled Congress. This after 6 years of never vetoing a single Republican spending bill, racking up record deficits (after blowing Clinton’s Surplus), and raiding Social Security to pay for his rich buddies’ tax breaks. The idea that this administration can even say the words fiscal responsibility with a straight face is laughable. The fact that they can do so and not be called on it by our so called “liberal media” is sad.

This veto, like the SCHIP veto, is the act of a spoiled and irresponsible child. This administration is more concerned with creating the illusion of fiscal responsibility and scoring partisan political points than looking after the best interests of the country they swore to protect. Luckily for us this is one temper tantrum we won’t have to put up with long as the votes are there for an overturn. I do expect to see the same kind of lies and misinformation about this bill as they trotted out for SCHIP, with the same staggering indifference to the truth.

Update: 11/9/07 By William
The promised veto has happened. See my write up of President Bush’s first veto here. Unless Bush stops using his veto powers for partisan political stunts at the expense of the nations needs there will be more veto overrides coming.

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