Moving Toward A Vote

The proposed fiscal year 2016 defense authorization bill is moving toward a final Senate vote later this week, clearing a procedural hurdle today required to consider the bill.

The White House, however, has indicated that President Obama will ultimately veto the bill because of its inclusion of a budgetary "gimmick" that circumvents 2011 Budget Control Act spending caps for the Defense Department, but not for other areas of government.

The Senate cloture vote on Tuesday was 73-26, thus teeing up a final vote on Thursday, where it is expected to pass and be sent to President Obama for his signature.

Despite Tuesday's tally, Democrats have vowed to break off and give Obama the necessary votes to sustain a veto of the bill.