Donald Trump (image via Flickr/White House)And stay out!
In a virtual backhand, the Senate voted today to override Donald Trump’s veto of the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
From the Washington Post:
The Senate on Friday voted to turn a $741 billion defense authorization bill into law over President Trump’s objections, delivering the first successful veto override of his presidency in the waning days of his administration.
The 81-to-13 vote in the Senate, just days after the House also voted in overwhelming numbers to back the legislation, was one of two rare rebukes of Trump on Friday from Republican lawmakers.
Ahead of the vote on rejecting the president’s veto, Senate Republicans blocked a Trump-endorsed effort to increase the size of stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000.
The House of Representatives voted 322-87 on Monday to overturn Trump’s veto. This is the only veto override of Trump’s presidency.
The defense bill, which funds the armed forces, also includes a pay increase for the men and women in our military. Normally, this is a bill that gets widespread bipartisan support.
But Trump wanted legislation to allow lawsuits against tech companies like Twitter, which the Donald longs to sue because they’ve taken to tagging his disinformation tweets with warning signs.
He also opposed language in the defense bill that would rename 10 military bases currently named after Confederate leaders.
In three weeks, our country will inaugurate a President who respects our military, protects our security and honors the will of the Congress. Until then, the Congress urges Trump to end his desperate and dangerous sabotage. https://t.co/FRJfI0O7uW
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 1, 2021
If the Commander in Chief cared about our troops and their families half as much as his own political fortunes, we never would have needed today’s vote to override his NDAA veto. ⁰⁰I’m relieved to finally put an end to Trump’s temper tantrum and support our national security.
— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 1, 2021