As the Congress gets ready to send President Obama a bill that forces the start of construction on the Keystone XL oil pipeline to Canada, the number of veto threats by the White House keeps increasing, with two more issued on Tuesday - for a total of a baker's dozen.
The latest veto threats were lodged against two tax bills from Republicans that are up for a vote in the House this week; one would expand the charitable tax deduction that applies to food donations, while the other would expand certain tax relief for small businesses.
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Credit: Jamie Dupree
"The Administration wants to work with the Congress to make progress on measures that strengthen America's charitable sector," the President's budget office said about the food donation bill.
"However, H.R. 644 represents the wrong approach," the Office of Management and Budget concluded.
After just five weeks of work in the Congress, there are already 13 official veto threats against specific legislation - and a number of others lodged in a general way by President Obama.
Keystone veto up in coming days
In six years of his time in office, President Obama has only vetoed two measures - but that seems likely to change in coming days - as Repblicans send him a bill that allows for the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
"We promised -- we indicated that the President would veto similar legislation that was being considered by the previous Congress, and our position on this hasn’t changed," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
"There are a lot more direct ways to create well paying American construction jobs," the President said last month to reporters, as he continued to downplay the economic impact of the pipeline.
This graphic from the White House shows all the current veto threats issued against specific pieces of legislation. The total is only expected to grow.
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Credit: Jamie Dupree
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