A veto override for Florida's sake

Drunky McStagger has never had a veto overridden (although Congress certainly is trying with SCHIP). However, that may be about to change, with profound implications for Florida.

Bush says he supports Everglades restoration and has included funding for it in his proposed budget. But the president objects to the total cost of the water bill, especially after Congress tacked on projects that boosted the total to $23 billion.

Everglades restoration remains trapped in the standoff between Bush and Congress.

While vetoing the bill, Bush said its many projects potentially divert spending from higher priorities, such as Everglades restoration.

"American taxpayers should not be asked to support a pork-barrel system of federal authorization and funding where a project's merit is an afterthought," he said.

On this bill, Bush faces a defiant Congress, including many fellow Republicans who support projects in their states. As a result, proponents of the bill are confident they can round up two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate to pass the bill into law over Bush's veto.

If so, supporters of the various projects, including Everglades funding, would still need to seek annual appropriations. The bill Bush vetoed merely authorizes Congress to spend money within certain limits.

Florida Sens. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Mel Martinez, a Republican, said they would vote to override the veto, noting the bill authorizes nearly $2 billion for Florida projects, most of it related to the Everglades.

"No single bill Congress approves this year will have as much positive impact on Florida's environment than this," Martinez said. "The federal partnership in Everglades restoration is long overdue, and this bill brings our federal partners to the table."

The bill includes money for restoration of the Indian River Lagoon and a study of the Herbert Hoover Dike on Lake Okeechobee, both of which would have significant impact on the sustainability of the Everglades.

I'm happy to see Sens. Nelson and Martinez agree on something other than bombing the shit out of other countries. Let's hope they can garner enough support from their colleagues to override the veto and tell Drunky where he can stick his faux "fiscal responsibility."