There was something that really bothered me about Barrasso's arrogance today.

Barrasso Statement on Republican Senate Majority

“AMERICANS EXPECT US TO GOVERN – AND THAT’S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.”

November 4, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement on the American people’s decision to elect a Republican Senate Majority:

“Americans supported Republicans today because they want Washington to end the gridlock and start solving problems.  After years of delay, obstruction and partisan political stunts, the Senate is about to finally function again. This election has been good for our country and good for the American people.  Americans expect us to govern – and that’s what we are going to do.

“In the new year, Senate Republicans will take immediate action on jobs, energy, healthcare, trade and national security.  We will pass important bills and send them to President Obama to make consequential decisions. The President has two years left in office to finally deliver the change people so desperately want in our country. A Republican Congress will ensure that Washington starts leading on issues impacting families, workers and small businesses across America.” 

Consequential decisions. Why would President Obama be facing consequence when it seems to me the Congress is the one facing consequences if they don't get along with President Obama. He has lived with an obstructionist Congress for six years, why change now?

If Senator Barrasso is thinking over riding a Presidential veto is easy, he is wrong. The Congress has to get along with the Democrats and the President.

Presidential veto powers stand unless there is a two third majority of the governing bodies to override it.

...The regular veto is a qualified negative veto. (click here) The President returns the unsigned legislation to the originating house of Congress within a 10 day period usually with a memorandum of disapproval or a “veto message.” Congress can override the President’s decision if it musters the necessary two–thirds vote of each house. President George Washington issued the first regular veto on April 5, 1792. The first successful congressional override occurred on March 3, 1845, when Congress overrode President John Tyler’s veto of S. 66....

This majority House and Senate needs to tame their tempers and pass legislation that is of the President's willingness to sign. They need to get to work and prove they are worthy of their majorities. If all the Congress does is pass legislation the President won't sign then the American people will realize once and for all, the Republicans are incapable of governance.

The two thirds members the Republicans need to impeach is also the same two thirds to override a Presidential veto. The numbers aren't there.

So, can Republicans govern or not? It should be very interesting.

...Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law....

Ted Cruz is nobody and McConnell knows it.

The total number of vetos in the history of the USA is 1496 or which 109 were overridden. To date, President Obama actively vetoed two legislative measures.

President Barack H. Obama withheld his signature from a measure during an intersession recess period (H.J. Res 64, 111th Congress, 1st sess.) and from a measure during an intrasession recess period (H.R. 3808, 111th Congress, 2nd sess.) but returned both measures to the House, which proceeded to reconsider them. “Pocket-Veto Power – (Extensions of Remarks – May 26, 2010),” Congressional Record, 111th Cong., 1st sess., (May 26, 2010): E941. The measures are not included as pocket vetoes in this table.


The USA House has 435 members and a two thirds override would require 291 House members. The USA Senate has 100 members and would require 67 to override. The Democrats have at the very least 42 seats and 2 independents. The House has 189 members that are Democrats. There is no way the legislature is going to override any veto.

Poverty, minimum wage, equal pay, student debt, health care changes, immigration reform, war, SSI and Medicare/Medicaid, income inequality, gun legislation, the environment and budgets are all still on the table. But, any bill being passed should have to require enough clout to the President to be signed. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished as the President has the upper hand with any legislation out of Congress for the next two years.

The President didn't change his mind about executing an Executive Order to facilitate immigration reform because of the election. He saw an opportunity to pass a bill rather than Executive Order under this new paradigm of power he now has before him. If the Congress is unable to or unwilling to pass immigration reform during this session of Congress why wait on an Executive Order?  

Next years Congress will require cooperation to pass any bill. Bills that are veto proof will no doubt take plenty of debate and time to pass. President Obama could actually get all his agenda passed next session. It will be interesting to hear a far more humble Senate and House in their proceedings next Congress.