House Fails to Override Appropriations Veto

Late last night, the House failed to override the President’s veto of the fiscal year 2008 (FY08) Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The final vote, 277-141, was 13 votes shy of the 290 votes required to override the veto. The largest domestic spending bill will now go back to square one, leaving Congress with less than a month until the current continuing resolution (CR) runs out and leaving the federal government without any funding authority. Lawmakers are already working on new proposals which they hope the President will sign before the December 14 deadline arrives.


The President had levied a veto threat against the bill even before each chamber passed its own version, based on what he viewed as excessive spending. The final version of the bill called for $10 billion over the President’s budget request for Labor-HHS-Education. Various programs, such as Title I, special education, and career and technical education all received funding increases. In total, Congress’ spending bills for FY08 came in at more than $20 billion above the President’s request. With the Labor-HHS-Education making up at least half of that difference, it was a prime veto target.

Democratic leaders were well aware of the President’s intentions, but sent him the bill as it stood in order to make a political statement. By vetoing the bill, the President provided Democrats with ammunition for accusing him of ignoring the American people by refusing to sign the single largest domestic non-defense spending bill, while asking for billions more for the war in Iraq. Regardless, the President held to his veto promise and sent the bill back to Congress.

Now that the bill is dead, Congress will have to find a different way to get the Labor-HHS-Education bill, along with multiple other spending measures, through the White House’s symbolic veto-wall. This will likely appear in the form of a large omnibus package, containing spending for multiple government agencies. Democrats have expressed interest in reaching a compromise with the White House, possibly by finding a midway point between their proposals and the President’s requested spending levels.

For example, they hope the President would be willing to sign a bill that included around $5 billion or more above his request for Labor-HHS-Education. The President has not yet responded to these proposals. However, if the President receives an omnibus bill right before Christmas, he may not have a choice as a veto would result in government shutdown.

Resources:
Jennifer Bendery, “House Fails to Override President's Veto of Labor-HHS Spending Bill,” Congress Now, November 15, 2007.
Author: SAS