Senate ignores veto threat, approves major defense bill

Joining the House in voting for a yearly defense policy bill by a broad bipartisan margin, the Senate dared President Donald Trump on Friday to veto the plan, which the President opposes in part because it allows the Pentagon to change the names of military bases named after Confederate soldiers.

The vote was 84 to 13, well more than the two-thirds of the Senate needed to override a veto.

“I am proud to join my colleagues in passing this legislation to protect our servicemen and women just as they protect us,” said Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), as GOP lawmakers refused to heed the President’s demand to vote against the bill.

“It’s important for this bill to become law ASAP,” said Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the second-ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate.

The President has threatened a veto for months, but in House-Senate negotiations, GOP lawmakers allowed the provision on Confederate base names - sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) - to remain in the final bill.

Mr. Trump also demanded that lawmakers attach language dealing with social media companies, but lawmakers said that was outside the scope of the defense measure.