White House issues veto threat on pipeline and abortion bills ahead of SOTU

The White House on Tuesday warned that United States President Barack Obama will veto two bills in the House of Representatives: one aimed at restricting access to abortions and another concerning natural gas pipeline projects.

However, if the Obama administration follows through with its threat to block the legislation, the White House may intervene and keep Congress from passing bills that will would prohibit abortion 20 weeks after fertilization.

The abortion bill, the White House said in a statement of administration policy on Tuesday, “would unacceptably restrict women’s health and reproductive rights and is an assault on a woman’s right to choose.”

The pipeline bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), would require a federal agency to either approve or deny any applications for natural gas projects within 12 months’ time.

President Obama is expected to weigh in during the State of the Union address later on Tuesday on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project that has remained an issue of debate between the Democratic White House and the Republican-led Congress.