WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Wednesday failed to override President George W. Bush's veto of a $124 billion supplemental war funding bill.
Despite the efforts of House Democrats before Wednesday's vote, the override fell 62 votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority, 222-203, The New York Times said.
Bush had been highly critical of the bill, which came out of conference committee and was passed narrowly by the House last Wednesday. His veto Tuesday was only the second of his presidency.
Several top Democrats said they knew the override would fail, but reiterated their party's determination to limit the Iraqi conflict.
"If the president thinks by vetoing this bill he will stop us from working to change the direction of the war in Iraq, he is mistaken," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"Now he has an obligation to explain his plan to responsibly end this war."
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, said in a news release that both sides need to craft "a sustainable, long-term strategy for success," starting by passing a war funding bill "unfettered by strings, undistracted by pork, and unwavering in its commitment to achieving success."
