Sen. Mel Martinez, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart say they're ready to vote to override the presidential veto. The Water Resources Development Act HR 1495 contains more than $2 billion for Everglades restoration efforts.
Martinez said "at the end of the day, as a Floridian, Everglades restoration is such an integral part of this WRDA bill we have to take the good with the bad."
Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, assailed the presidential veto
"I'm confident that both the House and Senate can override his veto," Mack said. "And I hope we do so without delay."
The White House issued a press release in which the President explains why he vetoed HR 1495. Bush's first comment was that "this bill lacks fiscal discipline." Bush goes on to admonish the bill for making promises that Congress cannot keep, based on past bills that also promised certain funds to local communities that the communities never saw. Bush points out that the House version of the bill was set at a cost of $15 billion, and the Senate bill called for $14 billion, and the compromised bill between the two chambers is now set at $23 million.
The bill has overwhelming bi-partisan support in both chambers. It cleared the House by a vote of 381 to 40 and the Senate by 81 to 12. Two-thirds of each chamber must support the override for the bill to become law.
The White House issued a press release in which the President explains why he vetoed HR 1495. Bush's first comment was that "this bill lacks fiscal discipline." Bush goes on to admonish the bill for making promises that Congress cannot keep, based on past bills that also promised certain funds to local communities that the communities never saw. Bush points out that the House version of the bill was set at a cost of $15 billion, and the Senate bill called for $14 billion, and the compromised bill between the two chambers is now set at $23 million.
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