Conservatives Near Threshold To Sustain Spending Vetos

Conservative Republicans are nearing the threshold they need to sustain a presidential veto on any of the 12 annual spending bills Congress has yet to approve this year.

Republican Reps. John Campbell of California and Jeb Hensarling of Texas have convinced 135 GOP lawmakers to sign their pledge promising to sustain any vetoed spending bill that exceeds the White House budget request.

Campbell and Hensarling hope to send President Bush a letter once 146 House members have signed their pledge, clearing the necessary threshold to ensure Bush has sufficient support to send any of the pending spending bills back to Capitol Hill.