White House Threatens To Veto GOP Transportation Bill

The Obama administration has threatened to veto a transportation bill championed by Congressional Republicans.

The legislation, an alternative to a $50 billion provision in Obama’s jobs plan focusing on infrastructure spending, would offset costs with $40 billion in cuts.

“The bill’s unspecified rescission of $40 billion in appropriated funds would cause serious disruption in the Federal Government’s basic services in support of critical national goals, such as supporting education, protecting public safety, and promoting economic growth,” a statement from the Office of Management and Budget says. “[Obama’s] senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill.”

On Thursday, the Senate blocked Obama’s transportation bill in a 51-49 vote, 9 fewer than the 60 needed to override a filibuster.

Senate Again Rejects Obama's Jobs Bill

A section of President Obama’s comprehensive jobs package focused on transportation and infrastructure spending failed a key test today in the Senate.

Needing 60 votes to end debate, the Rebuild America Jobs Act only received the support of 51 Senators, most of them Democrats, who have now failed three times to bring some form of the larger bill to a floor vote.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, voted no alongside the 47 Republicans in the upper chamber.

The $60 billion measure includes repair funding for roads, bridges and airports, and also contains money to establish a national infrastructure bank. Republicans opposed the bill because it was paid for through higher taxes on millionaires.

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U.S. Withholding Iraq Withdrawal Rate

The U.S. military declined to tell reporters Thursday the rate at which American soldiers are being removed from the country.

“The numbers of troops per week and the bases that will transition is not being released,” Gen. Thomas Spoehr said during a news conference. “We’re doing that to ensure the protection of our servicemembers.”

Spoeher, U.S. forces’ deputy commanding general tasked with overseeing the logistical components of the withdrawal, added that in the past, militants have targeted servicemembers after learning when specific units would be leaving.

Report: Woman Who Accused Cain Got $45K

Politico said it has learned that one of the women who accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment received a $45,000 cash settlement from the National Restaurant Association.

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Dem Leaders Join Legal Fight Against DOMA

The House Democratic leadership as well as over a hundred fellow members are joining the legal fight against the Defense of Marriage Act.

132 members of Congress have filed an amicus brief in Massachusetts v. Dept. of Health and Human Services and Gill vs. Office of Personnel Management, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of language specifically defining marriage as a legal union between members of the opposite sex. The case is currently in the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Earlier this year, the Obama administration announced that the federal government would no longer defend the law, prompting House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), with the approval of the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, to appoint outside counsel.

“The brief makes it clear that the House is not united on this issue,” a statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) office reads. “There is no legitimate federal interest in denying married gay and lesbian couples the legal security, rights and responsibilities that federal law provides to couples who are married under state law.”