Obama Uses Veto For Only Fifth Time, Rejecting Defense Authorization Bill

Source: Washington Post

By Steven Mufson October 22 at 4:59 PM

President Obama exercised his veto power Thursday for just the fifth time in his presidency, rejecting a defense authorization bill because of the way it would sidestep budget limitations for the military and because it would restrict the transfer of detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay.

The White House said that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would tap an overseas contingency operations account designed for emergencies and war costs and use it as a “slush fund” to avoid budget restrictions. Those restrictions — known as sequestration — would impose offsetting across-the-board cuts if spending passed certain levels.

“The president believes that the men and women who serve in our armed forces deserve adequate and responsible funding, not through a gimmick or not through a slush fund but one that would — could withstand scrutiny,” said White House spokesman Eric Schultz.

The veto is a shot across the bow of Congress, which differs with Obama over the outlines of a budget for fiscal 2016. And Obama made an extra point by publicly signing the veto statement before a pool of White House press. The fiscal year ended Oct. 1 and a continuing resolution will temporarily keep the government open through Dec. 11.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/president-to-use-veto-for-only-fifth-time-to-reject-defense-authorization-bill/2015/10/22/58a455a6-78d4-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html