What this means for Idaho

BOISE - President George W. Bush vetoed a large funding bill – which included more than $8 million in funding for the 2009 Idaho Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The president vetoed the Labor Health and Human Services bill Tuesday. 

This funding was so crucial -- the Special Olympics committee in Idaho says these games might not happen without it!

$28 million is needed for Idaho to host these games. So far $17 million has been committed, but not collected - but that included the $8 million the president vetoed.

Nearly half of the money committed has just been taken away.

Local organizers call this a "major setback" -- they are "very disappointed", but hope it can be resolved.

If it's not fixed at a federal level, that money is going to have to come from some other source if these games are going to happen.

One thing that's really frustrated Idaho organizers is that all previous Special Olympics World Games in the US have received significant funding on the state and federal levels.

So far, the Idaho games have received no funding from Idaho or the federal government.

This is a top priority for Senator Larry Craig and Representative Mike Simpson -- who both sit on the appropriation committees.

They say along with other lawmakers will try to get this through again after Thanksgiving.

This veto was expected.