LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Republican John McCain faced tough questions Thursday about why he opposed a measure to restore the Everglades that had broad support from Florida officials, including Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and GOP Sen. Mel Martinez.
McCain said he couldn’t support the Everglades measure because it was part of a massive pork-barrel spending bill last year.
But the Arizona senator said he would have supported the measure on its own. He planned a tour of the Everglades today.
“I am committed to saving the Everglades,” McCain insisted to a convention of Florida newspaper editors. “I will do whatever is necessary to do so, and I have made that clear to the rest of the delegation.”
The $2 billion restoration plan was backed by Crist and Martinez, key Republican supporters of McCain. But McCain sided with President Bush, who vetoed the bill that included $2 billion for the Everglades, along with hundreds of other local water projects. Nonetheless, the measure became law in November when the Democratic-controlled Congress overrode Bush’s veto.
