The President Denies the Troops The Necessary Support

The President last evening:

We need to give our troops all the equipment and the training and protection they need to prevail. . . . The need to act is urgent. Without a war funding bill, the military has to take money from some other account or training program so the troops in combat have what they need. Without a war funding bill, the Armed Forces will have to consider cutting back on buying new equipment or repairing existing equipment. Without a war funding bill, we add to the uncertainty felt by our military families. Our troops and their families deserve better -- and their elected leaders can do better. . . . . [S]urely we can agree that our troops are worthy of this funding -- and that we have a responsibility to get it to them without further delay.

And therefore, I have just now vetoed the bill that would provide the troops all of that urgently needed funding and support . . . .

As one elected official was overheard saying, "Our troops and their families deserve better -- and their elected leaders can do better."

No hint in this public statement of any constitutional disability on the part of Congress -- the President saves that for the formal veto statement.