U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) Thursday voted to override President Obama’s veto of a bill passed by Congress and supported by both senators to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing a federal land grab that will expose Georgia farmers, ranchers, home owners and businesses to compliance costs and new fines, said officials.
The procedural vote to advance this measure failed by a vote of 52-40.
“I have fought this administration’s numerous power grabs at every turn,” said Senator Isakson. “This ‘Waters of the United States’ rule harms not only property owners, but our entire agriculture industry in Georgia, and I will continue fighting to roll it back. Federal bureaucrats should not be allowed to assert control over thousands of streams, creeks, wetlands, ponds and ditches throughout the country.”
“Today, I was proud to stand up for Georgia farmers, ranchers, and families and vote to override President Obama’s veto of the EPA’s power grab,” said Senator Perdue. “Since the Obama administration’s overzealous EPA announced its ‘Waters of the United States’ rule, Georgians have been outraged, and rightly so. Both the Senate and House acted to stop this rule, but President Obama continues to ignore the wishes of Georgians and the American people. Although our override effort was blocked by Senate Democrats, we will not stop trying to provide Americans with relief from President Obama’s blatant overreaches.”
The Senate passed a resolution on Nov. 4, 2015, co-sponsored by Senator Isakson and Senator Perdue, to prevent the implementation of an EPA’s water rule, known as “Waters of the United States,” and on Jan. 13 the resolution passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Wednesday, President Obama vetoed the legislation, allowing the rule to move forward. Thursday’s vote was an attempt to override that veto.