Why President Trump may threaten vetoes on spending bills to promote his policy agenda

Though Donald Trump will enter the White House facing both a Republican controlled House and Senate, Congress is unlikely to be a rubber stamp on his legislative agenda. Traditionally, presidents use the threat of legislative veto to move policy closer to their own preferences, but these threats tend to not be credible. In new research, Hans Hassell and Sam Kernell look closely at one type of veto threat – those made to resist extra legislation and spending on annual spending bills. He finds that such threats to veto riders can influence legislation by encouraging bipartisanship in the legislative process, especially in the Senate.