US Congress overrides Trump's veto of defense bill
Congress on Friday overrode President Donald Trump's veto of a good defense policy bill, an initial by lawmakers since he took business office practically four years ago, ensuring that the measure becomes law.In an extraordinary New Year's Day session, the Republican-controlled Senate conveniently turned aside the veto, dismissing Trump's objections to the $740 billion bill and handing him a stinging rebuke merely weeks before he leaves the White House.
Trump lashed from Twitter, stating the Senate missed an opportunity to eradicate protections for social mass media platforms that he said give "unlimited capacity to Big Tech firms. Pathetic!!!" Trump likewise slammed lawmakers for rejecting his call up to improve COVID-19 relief payments to $2,000: "Not fair, or intelligent!" The 81-13 vote in the Senate on the greatly popular defense costs followed a youthful 322-87 override vote in the House.
The bill affirms a 3% pay raise for US troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop amounts, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and additional military goals.House Loudspeaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., explained the "sweeping and overwhelmingly bipartisan votes" in the House and Senate "delivered a resounding rebuke to President Trump's reckless assault on America's military and national security."
Trump has vetoed eight other bills, but those were all sustained because supporters didn't gain the two-thirds vote needed in each chamber for the bills to become laws without Trump's signature.Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the most notable Democrat on the Senate Armed Providers Committee, referred to as Trump's Dec. 23 veto a "parting item" to Russian President Vladimir Putin "and a lump of coal for our troops. Donald Trump is certainly showing extra devotion to Confederate basic names than to the individuals who defend our nation."
