U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) on Thursday criticized President Barack Obama for vetoing the proposed $611.8 billion defense budget.
“The veto of the defense authorization bill is deserving of a congressional override, which is in reach because of vast bipartisan, bicameral support," Kirk said. "For Illinois, this veto blocks $22 million for construction of military family housing at Rock Island Arsenal and the new Illinois National Guard firing range in Sparta. The veto also blocks the construction of 12 new F/A-18F Super Hornets that will be built at the St. Louis Boeing plant that employs 2,000 Illinois workers.”
The White House said the president's chief reason for vetoing the proposed defense budget was that it would raise defense spending without raising domestic spending first.
The bill now moves back to Congress for further debate.
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