Let's review a few things Bush has been blocking

Bush has been busy saying "NO" to a lot of potential spending lately, choosing to exercise fiscal conservatism... when it's not about tossing money tank-over-fist at Iraq. I guess you need to make up for all that money and equipment "unaccounted for" somehow.

Shall we look at where he's protecting the American taxpayer?

1. VETO: Children's health bill (SCHIP Program)
   
   Pushed by the Democratic-led Congress but also supported by many Republicans, the bill was aimed at providing health insurance to about 10 million children in low- and moderate-income families. Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products would have been increased to pay for the aid.
   
   "Because the Congress has chosen to send me an essentially identical bill that has the same problems as the flawed bill I previously vetoed, I must veto this legislation too."
   
   Bush has said the funding level sought by the Democrats for the health program would have expanded it beyond its original intent of covering poor children and marked a step toward government-run health care.



2. STALLED: Bali Global Warming Agreement
   
   Despite everyone with a brain and a thermometer is in agreement that some kind of global warming situation is going on, Bush and buddies are still stalling.
   
   At the meeting in Bali, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, said "the situation is so desperately serious that any delay could push us past the tipping point, beyond which the ecological, financial and human costs would increase dramatically."
   
   But Bush and friends, who have all ready spent 7 critical years whitewashing scientific reports to give his corporate buddies a few more years to gut the planet, have decided not to decide. His response to the meeting's attempts at cutting CO2 emissions is a "why should we if they don't". He feels that setting emissions standards is pointless this early in the negotiation process, especially if rising industrial nations like China and India do not intend to make "meaningful" commitments.
   
   This will almost certainly push off any real changes in the United State's policies until after he leaves office. At least his legacy will be consistent.



3. VETO THREAT: 35-mpg Vehicle Standard (CAFE)
   
   The House passed (basically on party lines) the Energy Bill that includes the car company-friendly 35-mpg car/import car/truck Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard, but it has been stalled by Republicans in the Senate on several points, though many of them seem up to the challenge of making it work in some way.
   
   As far as Bush is concerned, the sticking point is that the Energy Bill would cut $21 billion in breaks to energy companies - despite record setting profits throughout the indstry. Even if Democrats overcome opposition in the Senate, they still would face the threat of a White House veto. The Bush administration has indicated that it would veto any energy legislation that repeals tax breaks for oil and gas companies.