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Obama vetoes bill to cap ex-presidents' expense accounts

Posted at 5:58 PM, Jul 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-22 18:58:22-04

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would cap the taxpayer-funded expense accounts of former presidents.

Obama says he supports the bill's goal, but sent the measure back to Congress because it would immediately end salaries and benefits to staffers carrying out the official duties of former presidents. He says the measure doesn't provide enough time for these employees to be moved to another payroll.

Obama says the bill would also interfere with the Secret Service's ability to protect ex-presidents.

He's offering to work with lawmakers and the offices of the former presidents to change the bill in ways that would earn his signature.