Reagan Vetoes Water Bill but Sees Override

President Reagan, challenging Congress to show some “political courage,” Friday vetoed the $18-billion clean water bill that was passed overwhelmingly by the Senate and House. But he conceded that his action would be overridden, perhaps as early as next week.

The President criticized the cost of the legislation, which would provide funds to construct sewage treatment plants and clean up the nation’s waterways, and charged that the anti-pollution bill is laden with so-called pork barrel projects.

“I cannot in good conscience sign it,” Reagan said in his veto message. Reminding Congress of the nation’s $2-trillion debt, he added: “It’s time we did the right thing, all of us, regardless of the political fallout.”

It marked the second time in three months that Reagan has blocked the $18-billion legislation. Both houses unanimously approved an identical measure last October, but the President killed it with a pocket veto after Congress had adjourned.

House and Senate leaders quickly reintroduced the bill this month, vowing to pass it over his objections. As the legislation gathered political momentum, the White House tried to win support for a $12-billion compromise measure. But Senate critics attacked the bill as inadequate and it was trounced on an 82-17 vote.

House members eventually approved the $18-billion legislation 408 to 6 and the Senate passed it on a 93-6 vote.

Republicans and Democrats expressed strong disappointment Friday at Reagan’s veto. Earlier, 76 senators from both parties had sent him a letter urging him to sign the water bill.

‘An Unfortunate Mistake’

“The President’s veto is an unfortunate mistake. . . . The clean water act is one of the most successful and cost-effective federal programs ever devised,” said Sen. John H. Chafee (R-R.I.), who helped draw up the legislation. “Congress will override this veto and this legislation will be law within a month.”

Environmental groups also criticized Reagan’s action, calling it shortsighted. Eric Draper of the Clean Water Action Project said the President was wrong to veto a bill that cleans up waterways and spurs development across the nation.

Democratic leaders, despite their criticism, privately relished the political showdown, confident that they have the votes to deal the White House a major defeat early in the 100th Congress. Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Merced), the House’s third-ranking Democrat, said the revival of the clean water measure is “an unmistakable message” that Congress is reasserting control over the nation’s legislative agenda.

House to Vote Tuesday

Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) said the House will attempt Tuesday to muster the two-thirds vote needed to override Reagan’s veto, and the Senate will schedule a similar vote later in the week.

The clean water bill would provide federal grants and loans over nine years to states and local governments to clean up the nation’s lakes, rivers and streams. In addition to building waste-water plants, the bill would earmark $400 million to control toxic pollution caused by runoffs from city streets and farmlands.

In California, the measure would provide $1.3 billion for water cleanup, plus funding for several anti-pollution projects. The projects include funds to divert sewage flowing from Tijuana, Mexico, into San Diego County; to protect San Francisco Bay under a new national estuary program and to authorize an experimental sludge pipeline off the Orange County coast.

Although complaining that the bill is “loaded with waste and laden with pork,” or boondoggle projects, Reagan did not single out any specific project in the bill for criticism.