The White House’s opposition to the legislation stems from concern it could weaken US ties with Saudi Arabia, expose USA citizens overseas to legal risks and open the door to lawsuits against the US from foreign countries.
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The bill was passed overwhelmingly by both houses of Congress on Friday.
“I can’t believe that the president is threatening to veto this bill the day after we were down at Ground Zero to observe the 15th anniversary, ” Van Auken said.
Differences between the White House and lawmakers backing the bill centers on concerns held by some of the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks and a bipartisan cadre of lawmakers that Saudi Arabia was involved in the attacks.
Earnest defended the administration’s stance against the bill saying it was not “an effective, forceful way for us to respond to terrorism”.
“That is a myth”.
The bill “exposes the United States” and its diplomats, and even corporate executives, to significant risk, Earnest added. “It only applies to acts of terrorism that are supported or funded or planned by a foreign government”, King said.
It would be the first override of an Obama veto since he took office in January 2009.
Steve Vladeck and I disagreed about the virtues and vices of the original JASTA bill.
White House officials said the president intends to discuss legislative priorities for the fall session, a time when most in Washington expect there is little chance for major legislation as the nation nears the conclusion of the 2016 presidential campaign.
The 9/11 attacks were planned and executed by Saudi national Osama bin Laden and his followers, who U.S. Navy SEALs reportedly killed during a covert raid on a residential compound in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.
However, Obama’s veto could be overridden by a two-thirds majority in the Senate and House of Representatives. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also attended. Saudi Arabia has also lobbied against the bill.
Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, who introduced the bill that passed the upper chamber in May, said that its main objective is to to seek justice for the almost 3,000 people who were killed in terror attacks on September 11, 2001.
“That was a concern we have expressed to members of Congress in both parties, ” he said.
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Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who introduced the bill, had called on Obama to sign the bill after it passed in the House.
