Iran War Powers Resolution Expected to Pass in Senate After 4 Republicans Join Democrats

A Senate resolution to limit President Trump’s ability to wage military action in Iran has enough Republican votes to pass, The New York Times reports.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who introduced the legislation, said Tuesday that at least four Republicans are expected to defect and back the bill.

Kaine said the Republicans supporting the bill “were discouraged that the attitude that was being communicated to us was that Congress was an annoyance.”

“After that, they came to me and we have been able to make some amendments,” he said.

The resolution would require Trump to get consent from Congress to attack Iran within 30 days of starting military action.

Collins, Paul, Lee, and Young:

The Republicans expected to vote in favor of the resolution include Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Indiana Sen. Todd Young, and Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

“Congress cannot be sidelined on these important decisions,” Collins said. “Only the legislative branch may declare war or commit our armed forces to a sustained military conflict with Iran.”

Lee and Paul were particularly incensed by the administration’s briefing to lawmakers on the drone strike that killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

Trump expected to veto:

The resolution is unlikely to get enough votes to override Trump’s veto, according to The Times.

“Congress has rarely passed legislation invoking the War Powers Act in an attempt to restrain a president’s war-making authority,” The Times reported. “Last year, it sent to Mr. Trump just such a measure in a bid to cut off American military support of the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen, an intervention that has created the world’s greatest humanitarian disaster. While Mr. Trump vetoed that legislation, supporters of the legislation hoped it would create a new model for curtailing presidential war powers.”

Democrats said they plan to vote on two other measures, one to revoke the 2002 authorization of military force in Iraq, and another to limit funds that can be used for military action against Iran, to restrict Trump’s ability to wage military action.

“President Trump does not have a unilateral authority to take our country into war against Iran and must work with Congress to meet this challenge,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

 

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