Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators both vote yes on defense policy bill

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) – Both Wisconsin senators have voted in favor of a defense policy bill that blocks the president from bringing terrorist suspects from the Guantanamo Bay prison to the U.S.

The vote was 91-3 to pass a broad defense policy package for the next fiscal year.

The White House says President Obama will sign the bill. But Republicans say it still leaves open the possibility of an executive order to close Guantanamo, one of Obama’s top campaign promises.

Senate GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the president should not act on his own, noting that Americans don’t want Guantanamo prisoners in their back yards.

Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin cited other reasons for supporting the defense package.

Among them is a reduction in what she calls “unnecessary restrictions” to the Littoral Combat Ship program. Baldwin says she helped provide full funding for 3 combat ships to be built at Marinette Marine.