Menendez votes to override Trump Defense veto; Booker votes to sustain

New Jersey’s two Democratic U.S. Senators split on a vote to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, with Bob Menendez one of the 81 senators voting to override and Cory Booker casting one of 12 votes to sustain.

This was the first time Congress voted to override a veto from Trump, who leaves office on January 20.

The override greenlights spending by the Pentagon that includes a 3% increase in military pay.

The bill also prohibits Trump from withdrawing from Afghanistan before the end of his term, unless the Secretary of Defense finds compliance with counter-terrorism commitments made by the Taliban.

Booker joined four other Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and independent Bernie Sanders in support of the Trump veto.  Seven Republicans, including Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, voted to sustain.

All ten Democrats in the New Jersey House delegation voted to override earlier this week.  Rep.  Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) was one of 109 Republicans to vote for the override, and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) was one of 66 members of the House GOP caucus to vote to sustain.