On the President's Veto of Labor HHS Appropriations Bill

The President again vetoed a bipartisan and fiscally responsible bill that addresses the priorities of the American people: education for our children, assistance in paying skyrocketing energy costs, veterans' health care, and other urgent health research on cancer and other serious medical problems.

At the same time, President Bush and his Congressional allies demand hundreds of billions of dollars for the war in Iraq -- none of it paid for.

Democrats have offered to work cooperatively with the President to address the priorities of our nation; we believe our differences are not so great that compromise cannot be reached. But the President must work with us -- finding common ground on behalf of the American people.