BUSH BLASTED FOR FORGETTING ABOUT VETO

Several groups that last year supported legislation allowing counties to
create a public defender system joined Tuesday in criticizing Gov. George
W. Bush for forgetting that he vetoed it.

"He couldn't even remember that it passed both houses unanimously," said G.
Alan Robison, executive director of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas.

Bush vetoed SB 247, sponsored by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, saying at
the time that it was well-intentioned but would not improve the quality of
representation or justice.

On Sunday, Bush was asked about the bill during an appearance on NBC's
``Meet the Press." He could recall neither the legislation nor why he
vetoed it.

"No, I don't remember that bill. I can't remember the exact nature of the
bill. It wouldn't be -- because I'm for public defenders," Bush told host
Tim Russert.

Robison, who also used the occasion to criticize the nation's drug war, was
joined by representatives from the Harris County Democratic Party, the
Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the American Civil Liberties Union,
Corpus Justice and others.