Bush Vetoes Defense Bill 

January 2, 2008 -- In a surprise development, President Bush last week “pocket vetoed” the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1585). The president’s refusal to sign the Defense bill will delay implementation of several provisions important to the nation’s federal fire fighters, including the amendments to the National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

Bush claims he vetoed the bill due to a provision that would permit lawsuits against the Iraqi government in U.S. courts for Saddam Hussein-era acts of terrorism. Neither the White House nor the Department of Defense objected to the provision when Congress added it to the bill, but the Iraqi government complained after it was sent to the president for his signature.

“"It is a shame that the White House has taken this step to satisfy the demands of the Iraqi government for whom our troops have sacrificed so much,” says the bill’s author, Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO). “Without it, our troops are at risk of losing many valuable benefits, including a much anticipated pay raise and the long overdue reforms to the health care system for our Wounded Warriors.”

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger also criticized the 11th hour decision. “Once again, this president declined to work cooperatively on issues affecting our troops and civilian personnel,” Schaitberger says. “Instead he chose confrontation over cooperation, and the result will be more delays in programs for our DoD fire fighters.”

In addition to the language restoring collective bargaining rights under NSPS, Bush’s veto also delays repealing the $400 cap on uniform allowances and reinvesting mutual aid reimbursements back into DoD fire service accounts.

Although the legislation passed both the House and Senate with enough votes to override a veto, it remains unclear if Congress will attempt to enact the bill over the White House’s objections or if it will remove the provision that caused the Iraqi government to object. The IAFF will be working closely with the members of the Congressional Armed Services Committee to ensure that the fire fighter provisions are included in any new Defense Authorization bill sent to the president.