White House says Obama would veto current defense bill

Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland October 4, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that President Barack Obama would veto the current version of a bill to reauthorize U.S. defense spending as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House opposes the bill because it allows Congress to restore defense pre-sequestration spending to spending levels without raising those limits on non-defense items. (Reporting by Julia Edwards and Susan Heavey)