Bush veto of education, health, labor bill escalates budget battle

Escalating his budget battle with a Democratic Congress, President Bush on Nov. 13 vetoed a spending measure for labor, health, and education programs that would have provided $63.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Education, a 5% increase over 2007 spending and 8% more than Bush had sought. The president’s veto sets up what could be a nasty showdown over 2008 education spending, with the 2008 fiscal year already two weeks old. Bush vetoed the $150.7 billion labor, health, and education spending measure on the same day he signed a 9% increase in the Pentagon’s non-war budget, to $471 billion. The defense measure only funds core department operations. It doesn’t include Bush’s $196 billion request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, except for a nearly $12 billion infusion for new troop vehicles that are resistant to roadside bombs. Read more at eSchool News online.