McCain, Who Missed Vote & Opposed Everglades Restoration Funding, Visits Park For Photo-Op

[hatrack]

John McCain will venture into the Everglades for the first time as a presidential candidate Friday, an obligatory rite of passage for politicians shoring up their environmental credentials in a crucial state.

But the Arizona senator opposed spending $2 billion on restoring the national park, siding with President Bush against Florida's political establishment -- including top Republican supporters Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez.

It took seven years after the state and federal governments closed a sweeping Everglades cleanup deal for Congress to authorize spending in 2007. McCain was campaigning and missed the vote, but he later urged his colleagues to let Bush's veto of the measure stand. ''I believe that we should be passing a bill that will authorize legitimate, needed projects without sacrificing fiscal responsibility,'' he said in a statement at the time.

McCain's campaign said he supports ''adequate funding'' for Everglades protection but had broader concerns about wasteful, scattershot spending in the $23 billion Water Resources Development Act. Coming three days after Barack Obama claimed the Democratic nomination, McCain's trip Friday will push Florida's signature environmental resource to the forefront of the race for the first time.

EDIT

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/559166.html

[DesertRat]

1. Friggin hypocrite!

It's the same as him saying we support the troops while opposing the new GI Bill. :grr:

[DesertRat]

2. kick

[Olney Blue]

3. kr

[tom_paine]

4. Just like Bush is McBush.