It's the old practice of "log rolling." In a nearly 50-50 Congress like this one, the only way you pass a bill with a veto-proof majority is to allow each reluctant member to add one pork project to tout to his voters as an accomplishment. Thus the bill ends up looking like a Christmas tree. ObamaCare was like that, I had to read the whole thing!

Not quite. Here's the actual language from Article I, Section 7:

"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law."

So it's 10 days excluding Sundays.

The special case of a pocket veto is the last clause above, which applies here because at noon on January 3 (date set by the 20th Amendment), the terms of all House members and 1/3 of Senators expire, and the outgoing Congress is forced to adjourn sine die so that the incoming Congress can start their session and be sworn in.

This year, Jan 3 is a Sunday. The 10th day before it, excluding Sundays, was Dec 23.

Billions going to other nations for what?....$600 is an insult to those who have needed a extra jolt to their finance let them get back to work and earn REAL $$$ its the American Way!!!