Obama has vetoed a $612 million defense policy bill and has returned it back to a Republican-controlled Congress. His reason for doing so is the manner in which it uses money that should be used for war spending to avoid automatic budget cuts to military programs.
In speaking with reporters, he said, “I’m going to be sending it back to Congress and my message to them is very simple: ‘Let’s do this right’. We’re in the midst of budget discussions. Let’s have a budget that properly funds our national security as well as economic security.”
He also mentioned that he was in disagreement with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which limits his ability to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center before he leaves office in January 2017.
Of course, one can see why because closing the detention center was one of his first campaign promises made in 2008. Also, he is of the opinion that it is both outdated and expensive and it’s time that it is closed since there are better ways to keep Americans safe.
While Obama and Democrats want to focus on domestic spending, Republicans believe that it is irresponsible and instead spend more to ensure national security.
Given his veto, they have decided to override it by a vote in both the House and the Senate – needing two-thirds of the majority in both houses.
Nancy Pelosi believes that the House will sustain it and which will pave the way for a better NDAA in the future.