President Bush Issues Veto Threat

The White House has issued a bureaucratic "Statement of Administration Policy" that includes a veto threat on the war supplemental bill that's currently in the Senate. Showing that the president means business, they've even underlined the actual text! Whoa, baby! Excerpt (PDF): bq. The Administration is seriously concerned with the overall funding level and the numerous unrequested items included in the Senate bill that are unrelated to the war or emergency hurricane relief needs. The final version of the legislation must remain focused on addressing urgent national priorities while maintaining fiscal discipline. Accordingly, if the President is ultimately presented a bill that provides more than $92.2 billion, exclusive of funding for the President's plan to address pandemic influenza, he will veto the bill. Let's all take this time to remember what happened with the pork-infested Highway Bill last summer. First, the Senate asked for too much money. Second, Bush issued a veto threat. Third, the Senate used smoke and mirrors to bring the number in line with the president's request, but in reality, spent $10 billion extra. While high-fives were exchanged in the Senate hallways, the public was hoodwinked. Expect those kinds of shenanigans this time around.