WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) — For just the fifth time in his seven-year tenure, President Barack Obama broke out the veto stick on Thursday to reject a bill that seeks to allocate more than $600 billion for defense spending — the latest punch in an ongoing fight between the White House and Republicans over government spending.
The latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which earmarks $612 billion for the Pentagon, received wide support in both chambers of Congress — but it rankled Obama because he’s hesitant to give those defense dollars when the GOP isn’t willing to remove spending limits for other government departments.
Obama’s main issue with the NDAA is the budget impasse. He wants non-defense agencies, like those that facilitate social programs, to have the same potential to receive unrestricted spending that the Pentagon does.
Despite some urging by fellow Democrats to sign the bill, though, Obama decided to take a stand by leveling his third veto of 2015 — and just his fifth since taking office in 2009.
“I’m going to be vetoing this authorization bill. I’m going to be sending it back to Congress, and my message to them is very simple: Let’s do this right,” Obama said. “Let’s have a budget that properly funds our national security as well as economic security. Let’s make sure that we are able, in a constructive way, to reform our military spending to make it sustainable over the long term.”
Republicans slammed Obama following his veto Thursday, claiming his rejection of the bill jeopardizes national security and is a slap in the face for American soldiers — since servicemen and women cannot be paid or receive benefits without the bill.
“The veto threat is about one thing and one thing only, and that is about politics,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), R-Ariz., said. “[The bill] maintains the quality of life for our service members and their families, while addressing the needs of our wounded, ill and injured service members.”
McCain, a military veteran, said the bill also includes funding for improved aircraft, cyber-defenses and aid to Ukraine.
While Republicans say they understand Obama’s position, they claim the NDAA is not the bill he should use to send a message about his budget wishes.
“We are not vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act because of some policy difference that relates to defense, but because we want more spending on social programs, we want more spending for the EPA, for the IRS, for name your program that the president wants more money for,” Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), R-Okla., told The Hill congressional blog, referencing Democrats’ line of thinking. “That is abhorrent.”
One particular part of the bill opposed by Obama and most Democrats would put nearly $40 billion in a federal war chest, as a means to get around Defense spending caps mandated by Congress. War funds are not subject to federal spending caps.
Another point of concern for Obama is that the NDAA would tighten restrictions on transferring inmates from the U.S. Navy’s prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — a facility Obama has been trying to close since he took office six years ago.
In addition to their national security concerns, Republicans are also criticizing the president because the NDAA is a policy bill — not a fiscal appropriations bill, for which a veto would make more sense.
“The president wants to make a point about spending. There are certainly ways to do that without putting our troops in the middle,” House Speaker John Boehner said after sending the bill to Obama.
“Shouldn’t we be willing, as members of Congress, to put partisanship aside and as the president put partisanship aside and do the right thing for them?” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), R-Ill., asked.
Congress can override Obama’s veto on Nov. 5, but the House will need more votes to accomplish that. The 270 votes cast in favor of the bill in the House would not be enough for an override.
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