Obama vetoes NDAA – Defense funding of our military

After spending hours watching Hillary dance rings around the GOP during the hearing yesterday, my tired fingers did not feel compelled to opine in written form. So let us give the attention to the real heroes of the day and every day that keep us warm and safe so we may go about and enjoy our lives while the put theirs on the line.

Obama in a fit of peek, couldn’t get his way totally, so he vetoes the NDAA. Did it get any attention? Did you even know about it? He had the press in for a picture-taking affair. Why did he veto it? Because of nothing to do with defense. Rather, finally funding that monstrosity that McConnell and Boehner foisted on us that striped our military.

Democrats were particularly upset over Republican attempts to circumvent the across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration that began in 2013, saying they could not accept any increases in military spending without equivalent increases for other programs.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Thursday vetoed the annual defense policy bill that includes troop pay and benefits — as well as historic personnel reforms — making good on a promise to oppose Republicans on spending.

Obama rejected the bill because it funnels about $38 billion in daily DOD expenses through Overseas Contingency Operations, which allowed Republicans to fully fund defense while avoiding a larger debate over removing caps on federal spending.

The 2016 NDAA includes a $515-billion base defense budget that lays out troop pay, personnel benefits and policy for DOD, and the $89-billion war fund called Overseas Contingency Operations. It calls for an historic reform of the 20-year pension system, hikes in Tricare fees, protections for the A-10 Thunderbolt II and a review of troops carrying personal guns on bases, among a raft of other initiatives.

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Filed under: War on Terror Tagged: Defense funding, Military, NDAA, Obama