Veto override means flood-control money on way

Nearly $100 million was appropriated to Northeast Pennsylvania on Thursday to fund flood-control projects.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 was originally passed on Sept. 24. President Bush vetoed the $23 billion bill on Nov. 2 saying the measure was too expensive. But on Thursday the Senate voted to override that veto 79-14. The House voted to override the veto on Tuesday.

Mayor Tom Leighton said the projects represent “great news for the southern part of the city, more importantly for the residents who have been affected four times in the last three years by flooding.”

“I am pleased that Congress has again recognized the importance of these water projects to the residents and businesses of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Specter, R-Philadelphia, said. “Securing WRDA authorization represents a key step in creating and maintaining the region’s flood control measures.”

The vote to override the veto was overwhelmingly bipartisan. Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey joined Specter in voting to approve funding for the flood projects.

“Northeastern Pennsylvania will benefit greatly from Congress passing the first Water Resources Development Act in seven years,” Casey said. “The northeast has a history of flooding, and this bill will help the area both endure and quickly recover from unexpected flooding.”

Congress typically passes WRDA every two years but has not passed one since 2000.

“It’s something that we definitely needed in our area and I was fighting for it for years,” Leighton said. “This would not have been possible without the efforts of Senator Specter, Senator Casey and Congressman (Paul) Kanjorski. They put a lot of time and effort into this cause. They fought for it in Washington.”

The bill allocates $50 million for Solomon Creek flood protection. New construction will take place along Solomon Creek in Wilkes-Barre and be added into the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project. The funds will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a project to protect more than 300 homes and businesses along Solomon Creek from flooding. Wilkes-Barre has experienced serious flood damage from Solomon Creek in 1972, 1985, 1996 and most recently in 2004 and 2006.

Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, helped get the bill passed in the House of Representatives.

“The two projects represent an expenditure of nearly $100 million to protect the residents of Wilkes-Barre and Bloomsburg. Thanks to many years of support from Senator Specter and the immediate attention of Senator Casey, I look forward to getting these projects constructed,” Kanjorski said. “The override of the President’s veto is an indication of how strongly member of both parties feel about investing in vital projects in the U.S.”