'Don't ask' bill at veto risk

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WASHINGTON -- The bill repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military could present the Obama administration with a problem: It also contains money for projects the Pentagon considers wasteful.

The White House has threatened to veto any bill that contains money for weapons programs that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trying to eliminate as part of his campaign to tame the Pentagon budget.

As a result, President Barack Obama could end up vetoing Congress' repeal of the ban on gays in the military, a legal change he promised to push through during his campaign for the White House.

Late Thursday night, the House passed an amendment to the defense authorization bill repealing the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" law. But it also passed an amendment providing $500 million to continue developing a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The House approved the entire bill, including both amendments, Friday in a vote of 229-186.

"Gates has made clear that killing the alternative engine is a top priority," said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "He is putting his foot down."

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/may/29/dont-ask-bill-at-veto-risk/

[Scuba]

1. A Poisin Pill Rider...

... these things should be banned.

[xchrom]

2. Sigh. Nt

[peacebird]

3. Sign the bill with a signing statement that explains Obama reads the second engine

as an item to be done only after all other military needs are fully paid for. (which will NEVER happen, look at the poor VA)

[Lerkfish]

4. Kabuki theatre

which is providing cover for which? is the rider a convenient cover for vetoeing a bill that either the military, the republicans or Obama doesn't want, or is the rider a cover for the pork barrel that the republicans want and the president/military doesn't want?

either way, I think this will mean the death of the repeal of DADT.

[PFunk]

5. I think you might be right.

However, poison pill or not if Obama does veto this bill then the majority of the Gay community that once voted for him in 08' will probably just sit on their hands in '10 and '12 because of it. NOT a god thing.

[HughMoran]

10. I think it's pork barrel trading

& that Obama will sign it anyway.

[aikoaiko]

6. I will be very surprised if he vetoes.

[Lerkfish]

7. well, I think you should prepare yourself for that possibility.

that way you won't be surprised if it happens.

[Historic NY]

8. Come on just do as signing statement, be bold Mr President,

[discocrisco01]

9. C-17

I wonder if it is going to more C-17 production. More C-17s = more work for me.

Even though I think that it is wasteful program and should be eliminated, it mean work for me at my job.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Why is the C-17 a waste? We have flown the wings off most of our air transports

[Flubadubya]

11. BOLD...

is a character trait Mr. Obama has yet to display, unfortunately. x(

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. Poison Pill...A DC specialty. Signing statements won't stop it either

FWIW, the alternate engine is probably a good thing to do