Republicans Defy Bush, Override Veto

President Bush suffered the first veto override of his presidency today, as Republicans defied their party’s leader en masse.

The Senate voted 79-14 to override the veto of the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, following Monday’s override vote in the House which was passed 361-54.

The $23 billion bill provides funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects throughout the nation, including several navigation projects on the North Shore of Lake Superior, three wastewater treatment projects in northeast Minnesota, and $4 million for a dispersal barrier to protect the Upper Mississippi from non-native carp and other invasive fish.

The dispersal barrier, recommended to be built at the General Zebulon Pike Lock and Dam No. 11 north of Dubuque, Iowa, is intended to “delay, deter, impede, or restrict the dispersal of aquatic nuisance species into the northern reaches of the Upper Mississippi River system.”

The congressional delegation from Minnesota voted unanimously in favor of the override, as Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Norm Coleman both registered votes of “yea” late this morning. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, who was one of 14 representatives to vote against the legislation when it was initially passed, shifted positions and voted in favor of overriding the veto.The only member of the Minnesota delegation not to vote on the legislation was its primary sponsor, Rep. James Oberstar, who is recovering from neck surgery that was scheduled at a time when it was believed the congressional session would end in October.

While the bill authorizes funding, all projects will still need final approval from the Appropriations Committee.