Obama’s first veto over-ride

USA Today reports:

The House and Senate voted Wednesday to reject President Obama's veto of legislation allowing lawsuits against sponsors of terrorism — the first successful override of a presidential veto since Obama took office.

The president had vetoed the legislation Friday because he said the bill — known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA — would infringe on the president's ability to conduct foreign policy. It was the 12th veto of his presidency.

But after an intense push by survivors and families of victims who want to sueSaudi Arabia based on claims the country played a role in the 2001 terror attacks, even Obama's Democratic allies on Capitol Hill voted to override his veto.

The House voted 348-77, well above the two-thirds majority needed. The final vote tally in the Senate was 97-1. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., cast the lone dissenting vote.

So the House voted to over-ride by 82% and the Senate by 99%. Not even close.

The legislation provides the green light to several lawsuits — consolidated into one case on behalf of 9/11 victims and several insurance companies — as attempt to prove Saudi government involvement in the terrorist plot. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers who flew planes into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on 9/11 were Saudi nationals.

It will be fascinating to see how the lawsuits now go. What will happen if they rule the Saudi Government is liable and should pay damages? can't imagine they would.

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