BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Erie County's "Made in America" bill, at least as originally proposed, is dead after an attempt to override a veto failed to get the supermajority support required.

"I'm proud of standing up for the people of Erie County and the hardworking people of this country. It's pathetic that my colleagues cannot do the same thing because of politics," said Republican Ted Morton, the bill's author.

Last week, County Executive Mark Poloncarz rejected the bill for a number of reasons. Among them, he didn't believe requiring the county to purchase American-made products on contracts of $10,000 or more was allowed under state procurement laws.

"All of the legal counsel on our side said everything that we did was legal, so it's bogus that anyone says, oh I can't vote for this because it's potentially illegal," Morton said.

The fact the bill passed 9-1 in July, with one legislator missing, gave Morton confidence he could override the decision, but Thursday, the vote was split on party lines with every Democrat against it.

"Obviously the county executive either put pressure on them or something happened because they were yes votes on this law just a few weeks ago," Morton said.

Legislator Betty Jean Grant was one of the three to flip. She said she changed her mind after considering the effect the bill could have on Erie County's Canadian neighbors and had nothing to do with Poloncarz.

"I didn't even read his comments at all and I didn't have lunch today either with him so my vote was purely based on concerns that I had had myself," she said.

Pat Burke was the only "No" vote in July. While he agreed with the concept, he said the bill was poorly drafted and rushed. Burke's proposing his own legislation that would encourage, but not require the county to buy local.

"It gives points in the bidding process to Erie County companies first, then Western region companies, then American companies," he said.

Poloncarz, meanwhile issued a statement, saying he's ready to work with the legislature to draft a law that accomplishes the intentions of the Made in America bill.

"If he's really interested about working for the people of Erie County, the hardworking half million men and women in this county and America, I'll work with him on making changes to the law that we propose," Morton said.

Even if the override had passed voters would have had to approve the legislation by referendum next fall.