WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) — President Barack Obama is scheduled Thursday to formally veto a defense policy bill sent to the White House earlier this week.
While the White House opposes the bill because it retains caps on defense and non-defense spending, proponents of the bill say Obama’s veto should be directed to the defense appropriations bill, the Pentagon’s funding source. The bill would keep spending levels in line with a Republican plan to keep federal spending caps in place but would allow increases through a war fund not subject to limitation.
Despite Obama’s opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act, Republicans successfully led the bill through both Houses of Congress and are attempting to portray Obama as a president uncaring of defense and national security. It will be the fifth veto of Obama’s administration.
“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.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), R-Ariz., said the bill includes provisions for improved aircraft, cyber-defenses and aid to Ukraine, and offers improvements to service members’ lives.
“The veto threat is about one thing and one thing only, and that is about politics. [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 said.
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