Zippyjuan
11-10-2015, 02:06 PM
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/11/10/senate-bill-would-ban-guantanamo-bay-detainees-from-us
They criticize Obama for failure to close Guantanamo Bay but do everything possible to keep it from being closed. Part of the bill is supposed to ban torture yet allows the continued detainment of people not charged for indefinite periods of time and no hope of trial or release.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Barack Obama a $607 billion defense policy bill Tuesday that bans moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States — something Obama has been trying to do since he was sworn in as president.
The Senate's 91-3 vote gave final legislative approval to the measure. The House overwhelmingly passed it last week, 370-58.
Obama does not like the Guantanamo provisions, but White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama will sign the bill.
"The president believes closing that prison is a national security priority. The president is not the only person that shares that view," Earnest said, citing former secretaries of state who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Earnest said that Obama's decision to sign the bill — because it includes provisions that are important to running and protecting the country — does not change his position about wanting to close the prison.
Obama vetoed an earlier version of the defense policy bill over a dispute, later resolved, about whether defense spending increases should be accompanied by boosts in domestic programs.
Among other things, the bill would:
—Provide a 1.3 percent pay increase to service members and a new retirement option for troops.
—Authorize lethal assistance to Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels.
—Extend a ban on torture to the CIA.
—Authorize the president's request of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants.
"We all know the unfortunate and unnecessary roadblocks the defense authorization bill has faced this year. We all know that the president decided to veto the version of this bill we passed last month," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
"We look forward to the president signing the bipartisan bill — along with its restrictions against bringing terrorists into the United States — into law," he said.
More at link.
They criticize Obama for failure to close Guantanamo Bay but do everything possible to keep it from being closed. Part of the bill is supposed to ban torture yet allows the continued detainment of people not charged for indefinite periods of time and no hope of trial or release.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Barack Obama a $607 billion defense policy bill Tuesday that bans moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States — something Obama has been trying to do since he was sworn in as president.
The Senate's 91-3 vote gave final legislative approval to the measure. The House overwhelmingly passed it last week, 370-58.
Obama does not like the Guantanamo provisions, but White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama will sign the bill.
"The president believes closing that prison is a national security priority. The president is not the only person that shares that view," Earnest said, citing former secretaries of state who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Earnest said that Obama's decision to sign the bill — because it includes provisions that are important to running and protecting the country — does not change his position about wanting to close the prison.
Obama vetoed an earlier version of the defense policy bill over a dispute, later resolved, about whether defense spending increases should be accompanied by boosts in domestic programs.
Among other things, the bill would:
—Provide a 1.3 percent pay increase to service members and a new retirement option for troops.
—Authorize lethal assistance to Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels.
—Extend a ban on torture to the CIA.
—Authorize the president's request of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants.
"We all know the unfortunate and unnecessary roadblocks the defense authorization bill has faced this year. We all know that the president decided to veto the version of this bill we passed last month," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
"We look forward to the president signing the bipartisan bill — along with its restrictions against bringing terrorists into the United States — into law," he said.
More at link.