Washington Post: Pelosi vows to sustain Obama vetoes

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) vowed Thursday that House Democrats would sustain vetoes President Obama has threatened to issue on a trio of Republican-backed bills.

Speaking at her first news conference of the new Congress, Pelosi told reporters that lawmakers have a "fresh opportunity to work together for the good of the American people." But, there are limits to collaboration, she added.

"Part of that working together is to make clear where we have common ground and where we do not," she said.

Pelosi said Democrats would uphold Obama's vetoes of bills to construct the Keystone XL Pipeline, raise the number of hours employees must work to qualify for health-care, and give banks more time to get rid of risky investment.

The White House said this week it would veto those bills. Two-thirds of both chambers of Congress must vote to override a veto in order for a vetoed bill to become law.

Obama has only issued two vetoes during his presidency. But with Republicans holding unified control of Congress, that number could climb quickly during the final two years of his presidency.

"Hopefully we can find some common ground in some other ways," Pelosi said of working with Republicans.

Speaking after Pelosi, Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) criticized the president for his veto threats.

"At a minimum, he could have waited a few hours. Maybe he could have waited a few days," said Boehner, adding, "C'mon!"