Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Bush Renews Veto Threat Amid Moves to Kill Ports Deal

March 8 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush renewed his threat to veto legislation that would block a state-owned Dubai firm's takeover of some terminal operations at six U.S. ports as leaders in his own party prepared a measure to kill the plan.

Republican leaders said the House later today will attach language preventing DP World from assuming control of the U.S. operations of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to an emergency measure that provides $92 billion for military operations in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.

The House plans to pass the funding bill next week. If the Senate follows suit, the president will use his first veto to reject it, his spokesman said today. ``The president's position is unchanged,'' Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with Bush in Gulf Coast states ravaged by Katrina in August.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Republican leaders felt it necessary to block to deal to bolster homeland security. ``We want to protect Americans,'' Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said. ``We have a point of view on this, and we're going to move forward.''

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