Why does Bush keep vetoing bills?

Question

Bush vetoed yet another bill that would have assisted in the health and education department because he says it will cost too much money. The thing is, it is a very small amout of money compared to what he has lost in this iraq war of his.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush;_ylt=AoSPpUmFhEe7dnWtt.ldIvus0NUE


"Since winning re-election, Bush has sought to cut the labor, health and education measure below the prior year level. But lawmakers have rejected the cuts. The budget that Bush presented in February sought almost $4 billion in cuts to this year's bill.

Democrats responded by adding $10 billion to Bush's request for the 2008 bill. Democrats say spending increases for domestic programs are small compared with Bush's pending war request totaling almost $200 billion."

is pork the new catch phrase for cons?

and if you want to cut spending, why not stop a few hundred billion dollar war?

Answer 1

"I'm sorry Congress, but if you send me a bill that will raise taxes on Americans for social services, then I'll veto it. By the way, you got that next 150 billion dollars for the occupations of - I mean, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Just put it on my tab."

Answer 2

He wants to set a record since he spent all that time not vetoing bills for a Republican led congress, he wants to set most vetoes in shortest time frame. He's always wanted to be in the Guinness Book of World Records. I think he could go in under dumbest U.S. President though.

Answer 3

Now why would Bush want to make the Democrats look effective? 0-40 on Iraq soon to be 41

Answer 4

The pattern is clear. If its for domestic spending and helps make lives of americans here at home better, Bush is against it. If it its for war spending and helps put tax payer money in pockets of military industrial complex and war profiteering contractors like halliburton and blackwater, then Bush is for it. This is irrefutable.

Answer 5

The guy is a joke.

Conservatives voted him in twice because they knew he would nod his head yes at any bill they threw his way.

He didn't veto ONE single bill until the Dem's took over Congress. Now all of a sudden he has to TRY to pay attention.

In Bush we question....

Answer 6

As a Bush apologist, I admire the fact that he has kept healthcare out of the hands of government....well, except for Medicare Part D, the largest entitlement program in the last twenty years. I also admire that he vetoes all pork-filled bills....well, at least since 2006 when the Democrats took over.

Answer 7

It's absurd that Bush is suddenly anti-pork. What a joke. This is the President who quaked and whimpered at the thought of fighting Ted Stevens' (R-Alaska) famous "Bridge to Nowhere".

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-05-17-alaska-edit_x.htm

Now that the Dems are in power, he is suddenly a fiscal realist again?

Answer 8

it isn't about the amount of money. its about whether or not its going to be spent on what Bush wants it to be spent on or not. Bush says that 20 billion for increase social programs is "a lot", but 200 billion for a war that less than 20% of American's now support isn't.

Answer 9

Republicans argue that it is not the government's job to provide health care. Bush is vetoing anything he can get his hands on, without rhyme or reason.

Answer 10

I've never said this about a president before but, what a freaking A Hole! Veto of health and education funding!?!? Geez, he's a freaking moron. I guess he sees mental health and education as being things he never really had a use for so he doesn't want funding for either.

Predictable republican responses to follow:
It was loaded with pork items.....