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President Barack Obama Thursday vetoed a multi-billion dollar defense bill that has a direct connection to Tucson's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
The National Defense Authorization Act directs the Pentagon on how to spend its budget. Included in the bill is funding for the A-10 and EC-130 planes.
Those two craft account for the majority of the flight activity at Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Officials at the base say the facility has a $1 billion a year impact on the local economy.
The Pentagon and President Barack Obama have tried to retire the A-10 for years but the bill prevents that move.
Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., sits on the committee that wrote the bill. After the veto she said the move was purely political.
“Without this bill the A-10 and the EC-130 protections are in danger for sure,” said McSally in a phone interview from the Capitol.
Sen. John McCain held a news conference deriding the President’s veto.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., called the veto “disappointing.”
The bill passed the House and Senate with wide, bi-partisan majorities. The veto was not brought on by the funding for the A-10.
The House is expected to try to override the veto in a vote next week.
