McCain: I want to save Everglades

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By Rick Hirsch and Lesley Clark | Miami Herald

ORLANDO — John McCain on Thursday defended his opposition to spending $2 billion on restoring the Everglades, an effort supported by two of his biggest Republican supporters in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez.

''I am committed to saving the Everglades,'' said McCain, appearing before a gathering of newspaper editors at Walt Disney World. But he added: ``I will not vote for out-of-control spending.''

McCain said he would support a ''stand-alone'' bill to restore the River of Grass, but that the measure that passed last year was part of a broader $23 billion water bill that he opposed. President Bush vetoed the legislation as too expensive and McCain said he found it unpalatable. The Democratic-controlled Congress overrode the veto.

Read the complete story at miamiherald.com

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