Obama Threatens To Veto Now That Congress Works

Warning from President Barack Obama to congressional Republicans: I have a veto pen and, come January, I won't be afraid to use it.

Since taking office in 2009, Obama has only vetoed legislation twice, both in fairly minor circumstances. But with Republicans set to take full control of Congress next year, Obama is losing his last bulwark against a barrage of bills he doesn't like: the Senate.

"I haven't used the veto pen very often since I've been in office," Obama said in an NPR interview airing Monday. "Now, I suspect, there are going to be some times where I've got to pull that pen out."

He added: "I'm going to defend gains that we've made in health care. I'm going to defend gains that we've made on environment and clean air and clean water."

Obama's notice to the GOP came as he sought to set the tone for a year in which Congress and the president are on a near-certain collision course. Buoyed by decisive gains in last month's midterm elections, Republicans are itching to use their newfound Senate majority to derail Obama's plans on immigration, climate change and health care, to name a few.

To overturn Obama's veto, Republicans would need the votes of two-thirds of the House and Senate. Their majorities in both chambers are not that large, so they would still need to persuade some Democrats to defy the president.

But Obama said he was hopeful that at least on some issues, that won't be necessary, because there's overlap between his interests and those of congressional Republicans. On that point, at least, he's in agreement with incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"Bipartisan jobs bills will see the light of day and will make it to the President's desk, and he'll have to make decisions about ideology versus creating jobs for the middle class," McConnell said in response to Obama's comments. "There's a lot we can get done together if the president puts his famous pen to use signing bills rather than vetoing legislation his liberal allies don't like."

Potential areas for cooperation include tax reform and global trade deals — both issues where Obama and Republicans see at least partially eye to eye. Conversely, the likeliest points of friction surround Environmental Protection Agency regulations, the Keystone XL pipeline and Obama's unilateral steps on immigration, which let millions of people in the U.S. illegally avoid deportation and get work permits.

In the interview, recorded before Obama left Washington earlier this month for his annual Hawaii vacation, Obama also offered his most specific diagnosis to date of why Democrats fared so poorly in the midterms. He said he was "obviously frustrated" with the results.

"I think we had a great record for members of Congress to run on and I don't think we — myself and the Democratic Party — made as good of a case as we should have," Obama said. "And you know, as a consequence, we had really low voter turnout, and the results were bad."

Not only is that well within the president's powers, it's what people like me have been saying for years. Only a partisan hack like you could find a way to make the actual purpose of the president seem corrupted by Obama.

Not only is that well within the president's powers, it's what people like me have been saying for years. Only a partisan hack like you could find a way to make the actual purpose of the president seem corrupted by Obama.

I need to get some Schoolhouse Rock for King's Christmas.

iirc line item veto has been revoked as a power right?

I need to get some Schoolhouse Rock for King's Christmas.

When further questioned Obama said: It's my party and I'll cry if I want to...

Due to budget cuts Schoolhouse Rock has been removed from our curriculum

As far as I understand it, that only lasted like 2 years during Clinton's 2nd term, and was ruled unconstitutional. Similar powers under limited-terms have been discussed, but never made it through congress. Line-Item would be a good way to quell the flood of riders and partisan power plays but it's a bad way to govern.

yeah. they need to bring something similar to that. would be nice to have a president that would just veto every bill if it was loaded with bs and unncessary things

I'm pretty sure obama has used the veto less than any other president, at this point, barring guys that were shot too early to do anything.

Last shot at a good president we ever had a shot at... pun intended

We have had the same president every year since lincoln just name height weight and physical appearance keeps changing