Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had attempted to use a form of legislation called a resolution of disapproval to overturn the regulations, which have already been implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency. Obama's pocket veto on shaky legal ground, experts say. President Obama signs massive spending bill, tax measures into law, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Before adjourning, the House specifically designated a clerk to be available to receive messages from the White House.
Seven years into his presidency, he's now issued fewer vetoes than any president since Warren G. Harding, who issued six. Pocket Veto Definition Here is the official definition from the U.S. Senate: The Constitution grants the president 10 days to review a measure passed by the Congress.

All the presidents after him until George W. Bush had pocket vetoes pass while they were in office; the one with the most after Roosevelt was Dwight D. Eisenhower who had 108.

With seven bills rejected seven during his presidency, Obama surpasses Warren G. Harding Both the House and the Senate adjourned for the year on Friday. Twenty-four states are challenging the regulations in court. President Barack Obama has exercised two pocket vetoes, each accompanied by a regular veto of the same bill at the same time. Congress hates pocket vetoes, considering them an affront to its constitutional authority. Even more to the point, Obama sent the bill -- parchment and all -- back to the House. The vetoes were dated Friday, but announced early Saturday morning from the White House as the president was departing San Bernardino on his way to a two-week family vacation in his native Hawaii. The new rules aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants 32% by 2030 — a key bargaining chip in the recently completed United Nations Climate Conference in Paris. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Obama issued pocket vetoes of the resolutions under a constitutional provision that prevents bills from becoming law when Congress adjourns and the president fails to sign them. Republicans could still derail the plan via the judicial route. The two vetoes — on separate resolutions that would have rescinded emissions regulations on both new and existing power plants — bring the total number of Obama vetoes to seven, including five this year. Since someone was home, the House insists, there can be no pocket veto. Obama uses a controversial - and some say unconstitutional - tool. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Obama issued pocket vetoes of the resolutions under a constitutional provision that prevents bills from becoming law when Congress adjourns and the … "The Clean Power Plan is a tremendously important step in the fight against global climate change," Obama said in a veto message signed late Friday. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Obama also signed 13 bills into law Friday, including a $1.1 trillion spending bill to keep the government operating through next Sept. 30. During his presidency from 1933-1945 Roosevelt had vetoed 635 bills, 263 of which were pocket vetoes. Pocket vetoes are fairly common and have been used by almost every president since James Madison first used it first in 1812. WASHINGTON — President Obama has vetoed attempts by the Republican-controlled Congress to kill the Clean Power Plan that's a cornerstone of his climate change initiatives, the White House announced Saturday. If the president has not signed the bill after 10 days, it becomes law without his signature. Exercising both vetoes on the same bill could some day lead to a constitutional dispute over whether a bill has become law, experts said. Recent presidents have used the belt-and-suspenders approach to the veto in order to remove any confusion about their intent. HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. A pocket veto cannot. Pocket vetoes can't be overridden, but that was nearly impossible anyway because the Senate is 15 votes short of what would be needed. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama both had no pocket vetoes. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. But for good measure, Obama used a controversial form of veto in which he refused to sign the bill but sent it back to Congress anyway with a veto message. Reversing those regulations "not only threatens ongoing progress toward cleaner energy, but would also eliminate public health and other benefits" in reducing premature deaths and childhood asthma, he said.