Rep. Lauren Boebert Criticizes Trump's Veto of Colorado Water Bill, Raises Retaliation Concerns
Rep. Lauren Boebert criticized President Trump after his veto of the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, suggesting the veto could be retaliation for her vote to release the Epstein files.
The vetoed bill aimed to remove interest payments by the Bureau of Reclamation and extend the Colorado water project’s repayment period to 100 years. It had passed the House and Senate unanimously, with Boebert playing a key role in unlocking its consideration despite opposition from House leadership and the White House.
The White House veto explanation cited concerns that federal taxpayers would bear more of the cost, noting the project’s total cost at over $1.3 billion with about $249 million already spent. The project originated from the Obama administration's 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act.
Boebert expressed hope that the veto isn’t retaliation and urged leadership to prioritize people over politics. She had previously helped push the Epstein Files Transparency Act to a floor vote along with Reps. Thomas Massie, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, alongside Democrats, which later passed Congress and was signed into law.
