Bush Vetoes WRDA

President George W. Bush vetoed the Water Resources Development Act, better known as WRDA, Friday prompting a swift call from several members of Congress for an override of the veto.

The legislation, which includes authorization (not funding) for scores of water and flood protection projects in virtually every congressional district in the country, including the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane protection project in Terrebonne Parish and an upgrade for the levee system in south Lafourche, was vetoed by the White House because of its high price tag.

In a statement, President Bush noted that the bill “lacks fiscal discipline.” He cited escalating costs included in WRDA, which caused the bill to balloon to $23 billion – up significantly from an original cost of $15 billion.

“The bill’s excessive authorization for over 900 projects and programs only exacerbates the massive backlog of ongoing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects,” he noted in a prepared statement.

Typically approved every two years, a WRDA bill has not been passed and signed into law since 2000, primarily due to political infighting. However, this bill passed both houses of the U.S. Congress by wide veto-proof margins – 81-12 in the Senate and 381-40 in the U.S. House.

While expressing disappointment in the president’s actions, members of the Louisiana delegation remain confident that the veto will be overridden and the bill passed into law.

“The Senate and House decided to put an end to a seven-year wait and pass a bill that includes funding for wetland protection, flood protection and levee repair and construction,” U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu said. “I am disappointed that the President chose to veto the legislation, but I stand united with my colleagues in the effort to override the veto.”

Congressman Charlie Melancon issued a statement echoing Landrieu’s viewpoint.

“Every day that WRDA is delayed is another day that residents in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes remain unprotected from storms. Every year we don’t pass a WRDA bill is a year that Louisiana’s coastal wetlands wash away even further,” he said.

Melancon noted that he is hopeful the House will override the veto in the coming days.

In the meantime, locals remain in close contact with the state’s Washington delegation.

“We’re disappointed in the President’s actions but confident that the bill has the votes for the override,” said Jerome Zeringue, executive director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, the chief sponsor of the Morganza project.

Windell Curole, general manager of the South Lafourche Levee District, also expressed optimism that the bill will eventually be placed into law. “It could happen as early as this week,” he said.

Both men emphasized the need for authorization so local authorities can begin the arduous process of seeking funds to get projects under way. “This only authorizes the work but we need this step to happen so we can begin the quest for getting the actual money appropriated,” Curole said.

Should the override be successful, the bill fully authorizes the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane protection system, a $700 million project of levees, locks and floodgates designed to protect Terrebonne and portions of Lafourche Parish from tidal surges from category three storms.

The bill also authorizes $90 million for construction and improvements to the ring levee system in south Lafourche, and provides a monetary credit to the South Lafourche Levee District for work already performed on the Leon Theriot lock. The structure is located south of Golden Meadow.

Additionally, the bill provides authorization for 100-year levee height construction in the south Lafourche project once the U.S. Corps of Engineers establishes those heights.

Language in the bill also calls for the closure of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) in St. Bernard Parish.

In order for an override of President Bush’s veto to be successful, two thirds of the members of both the Senate and House must vote to do so. If it is overridden, it will be the first such veto defeat during the Bush presidency.