January 08, 2026 02:23 PM UTC

Profiles in Cowardice: Republicans Refuse to Override Trump Water Pipeline Veto

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• by: Colorado Pols

One of the most confounding and frightening political stories of 2025 was the manner in which Congressional Republicans and the U.S. Supreme Court decided to completely abdicate any responsibility for serving as a check on the office of the President. Time and again, Republicans rolled over for President Trump in embarrassing fashion, allowing the Big Orange Guy free rein to treat the United States Constitution as a list of suggestions rather than a governing document.

While some Republicans (and even the Supreme Court) have recently begun to push back against Trump — including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Windsor) — House Speaker Mike Johnson’s GOP caucus continues to cower at taking any action that might displease their Dear Leader. Today the House held a vote to override two recent vetoes from Trump on completely uncontroversial projects, including funding for a much-needed clean water pipeline in Eastern Colorado, that the President himself made clear were acts of political retaliation rather than any concern about policy questions.

As The Hill newspaper reports:

The House on Thursday failed to override President Trump’s vetoes of two previously uncontroversial bills concerning a Colorado water project and expanding lands of a tribe in Florida.

The move showcases House Republicans’ loyalty to the president and support for his political battles, as the vetoes had been seen as instances of Trump acting on political grudges.

A vote to override Trump’s veto on a Colorado water project — a bill spearheaded by Trump ally Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) — failed 248-177-1, with 35 Republicans voting with Democrats to override the veto and one Republican, Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.), voting present.

Leave it to South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace to find a way to be even more craven than her colleagues who voted ‘NO’ on the veto override.

All eight members of Colorado’s House delegation — yes, even Reps. Jeff Crank (R-Colo. Springs) and Gabe Evans (R-Ft. Lupton) — voted in favor of overturning Trump’s veto of a clean water project in Colorado.

This headline from The New York Times perfectly summarized today’s votes: