House Lawmakers will Vote, Monday Dec. 28th, on Overriding Trump's Rejection of the Fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Passed both Chambers of Congress with more than the Two-Thirds Majority needed to overcome a Veto.
Some Republicans have said they would Sustain Trump's Veto despite Supporting the Bill. Still, Dozens would need to Flip their Vote for the Override to Fail, and some Democrats who previously Voted Against the Measure could Switch their Votes to Override Trump.
"The FY21 NDAA passed with overwhelming, veto-proof support in both the House and Senate, and I remain confident that Congress will override this harmful veto. While the president may not care about our service members and their families, Congress still places an immense value on their service and sacrifice." House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th District) said in a Statement after Trump Vetoed the measure on Wednesday.
Republicans have been largely Reluctant to Vote against Trump over the past Four years. But Trump may have met his match in the NDAA, a Bill he has never Vetoed before.
Lawmakers are immensely Proud of the Bill's 59-year streak of becoming Law and do Not want to be remembered as the Congress that Failed to deliver. The $740 Billion Legislation authorizes Funding for Jobs, Military Bases, and Weapons Manufacturers, that affect nearly every Congressional District and State. Troops would Lose Out on a Host of Special Pay and Bonuses without Passage of the NDAA.
Lawmakers on both sides of the Aisle have also been Stressing the importance of Cybersecurity Provisions in this year's Bill after a Massive Hack suspected to have been carried out by the Russians compromised myriad Government Systems at Key Agencies.
Trump has offered Several shifting Explanations for his Opposition of the NDAA:
- He First threatened to Veto it over a Requirement that Confederate-named Military Bases be Renamed.
- He then Demanded Lawmakers add a Provision that would Repeal an Unrelated Tech Liability Shield Law from 1996 that he has been fixated on as Twitter Appends Corrective Labels to his Posts making Unsubstantiated Allegations of widespread Voter Fraud in the 2020 Election.
- Has Complained the Defense Bill is Weak on China, despite several Provisions aimed directly at Beijing, such as the Creation of a $2.2 Billion Fund specifically to Counter China.
- Has lashed out at Provisions designed to put up Roadblocks over his Orders to Withdraw U.S. Troops from Afghanistan and Germany.
Lawmakers in both Parties had urged Trump Publicly and Privately Not to Veto the NDAA. They were also hoping a Strong enough Bipartisan Vote would Dissuade Trump from Vetoing the Bill, which Passed the House in a 335-78 Vote, followed by an 84-13 Vote in the Senate.
One Possibility is some House Lawmakers might Not Return to Washington for Monday's Vote, for various reasons. Some might Not want to Travel during the Height of the Pandemic, already have the Coronavirus, or in Isolation. While others might Not feel compelled to come back for a Single Day because they are Retiring or Lost Re-Election.
Many Democrats have Voted by Proxy during the Pandemic, but Republicans have largely Opposed the Practice. Overriding a Veto requires Two-Thirds of those Voting, not Two-Thirds of the Entire Chamber.
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd District) said the Possibility of Absences Coupled with the GOP's Refusal to Vote by Proxy would Help the House easily Override Trump's Veto. "That's all to our advantage," Larsen, who recently Tested Positive for COVID-19, said last week.
The Unusual Post-Christmas Session is Necessary to Meet a Deadline to Override the Veto by Noon on Jan. 3rd, when the 117th Congress Starts. If Lawmakers Fail to Override the Veto before then, the New Congress would need to Start from Scratch with a Mark-Up on the Bill.
A Democratic House Aide said the Lower Chamber needs to Send the Veto Message to the Senate by Tuesday to Overcome any Procedural Hurdles in the Upper Chamber and Finish by Jan. 3rd. If the House Fails to muster Two-Thirds support on Monday, the Override effort Dies.
But if the House Successfully Overrides Trump, it then moves to the Senate, where any One Senator who Supports Trump's Veto could drag out Procedural Hurdles by Forcing a Separate Vote for each. The Senate is planning to convene Tuesday to start the Process if the House is Successful on Monday.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who briefly held up Passage of the NDAA earlier this month, has indicated he could similarly delay an override vote. "I very much am opposed to the Afghan war, and I've told them I'll come back to try to prevent them from easily overriding the president's veto,".
Senators have suggested the Final Override Vote could happen the Morning of Jan. 3rd, just Hours before the New Congress is Sworn In. Sen. John Thune (SD), the No. 2 Senate Republican, warned last week it could take a "few days" for the Senate to Jump through All the Procedural Hoops.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK), who has been Loyal to Trump on everything but this year's NDAA, urged Congress to Override the Veto, saying Troops "shouldn't be denied what they need - ever." "The NDAA has become law every year for 59 years straight because it's absolutely vital to our national security and our troops. This year must not be an exception," Inhofe said in a Statement after Trump's Veto. "I hope all of my colleagues in Congress will join me in making sure our troops have the resources and equipment they need to defend this nation."
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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