Water bill drying up

President Bush is threatening to veto $25 million for the restoration of the Los Angeles River and millions of dollars for other water projects throughout the country.

The L.A. River revitalization project is part of a nearly $21 billion Water Resources Development Act that lawmakers hope will pass before lawmakers leave town for a month-long August recess. But the White House on Wednesday said the bill spends at least $5 billion too much.

``Indeed, it seems a $14 billion Senate bill went into conference with the House’s $15 billion bill and somehow a bill emerged costing approximately $20 billion,’’ Office of Management and Budget officials wrote in a letter to Congress.

``This is not how most Americans would expect their representatives in Washington to reach agreement, especially when it is their tax dollars that are being spent,’’ the White House wrote.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, who has worked to shepherd the contentious legislation through Congress, noted that a water bill of this type has been stalled for seven years.

``If the president chooses to veto this bill, I expect we will override that veto in the Senate,’’ she said.