News / Politics
House Fails to Override Bush Veto of War Funding Bill
Falling well short of the two-thirds vote necessary to override a presidential veto, the war spending bill that the Democrats had pushed for is now a memory.
On Tuesday Bush vetoed the bill citing he would do the same on future war funding bills if a timetable for removing troops from Iraq was included. While the House is controlled by the Democrats there was little doubt that they would fail in attract enough crossover votes to support an override. The final vote count was 223-203 to override.
After meeting with several members of Congress after the House vote Bush said “I am confident that with goodwill on both sides that we can move beyond political statements and agree on a bill that gives our troops the funds and flexibility to do the job that we asked them to do.”
Republicans have criticized House Democrats for passing a bill that was destined to be vetoed. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-California, called the bill a “dog and pony show” and urged Democrats to take the necessary steps needed to fund the U.S. military.
Democrats are hoping to have a new bill passed in the House within two weeks.
