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| Bush uses 'pocket veto' to reject defense policy bill |
| 2007-12-29 |
| President Bush today used a "pocket veto" to reject a sweeping defense bill because he dislikes a provision that would expose the Iraqi government to expensive lawsuits seeking damages from the Saddam Hussein era. In a statement, Bush said the legislation "would imperil billions of dollars of Iraqi assets at a crucial juncture in that nation's reconstruction efforts." The president's objections were focused on a provision deep within legislation that sets defense policy for the coming year and approves $696 billion in spending, including $189 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also in the legislation were improved veterans benefits and tighter oversight of contractors and weapons programs. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #3 Congress does pocket pool - so W does a pocket veto. Appropriate. |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2007-12-29 09:34 |
| #2 The sponsor of the contested provision, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said the provision would allow "American victims of terror to hold perpetrators accountable -- plain and simple." He must not have got the memo about how there were no terrorists in Iraq until Hussein was ousted. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-12-29 08:05 |
| #1 Brendan Daly, spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, "The House rejects any assertion that the White House has the authority to do a pocket veto." When adjourning before Christmas, the House instructed the House clerk to accept any communications -- such as veto messages-- from the White House during the monthlong break. A Democratic congressional aide pointed out that a pocket veto cannot be overridden by Congress and allows Bush to distance himself from the rejection of a major Pentagon bill in a time of war. In a message to Congress, the president said he was sending the bill and his outline of objections to the House clerk "to avoid unnecessary litigation about the non-enactment of the bill that results from my withholding approval, and to leave no doubt that the bill is being vetoed." Democratic aides said they have not ruled out any legislative options, including dropping the language on lawsuits against Iraq and sending the rest of the bill back to Bush. In other words - W kicked your ass again, San Fran Nan |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-12-29 07:57 |