After years of barely flexing his veto muscles, President Bush seems to be exercising it to a fault these days.

First there was SCHIP, which would have increased funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. And on Friday, issuing his fifth veto, the president thwarted much-needed legislation that would provide funding for projects such as repairing hurricane damage, restoring wetlands and preventing flooding in communities across the nation.

Considering the devastating damage that Hurricane Katrina created to thousands of families in New Orleans and surrounding areas, this veto is appalling.

The president's motive seems to be clear: Send a message to Democrats that he's still in charge. This is especially transparent given that Bush never vetoed spending bills under the Republican Congress.

Now Congress must issue its own message by showing it has the strength and the political will to override the veto. Luckily, the $23 billion water bill passed in both chambers of Congress by well more than the two-thirds majority needed for an override.

The measure would allow projects in almost every state, from wetlands and coastal restoration and dredging projects for Louisiana to strengthening levee protection.

This nation unfortunately has seen the devastation caused by weak levees and a lack of preparation in the face of natural disasters.

Preventing states from being better equipped to handle the next catastrophe — for the sake of political posturing — is simply unconscionable.