Dem calls for new war authorization vote

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) on Tuesday urged the new Congress to vote on a formal authorization of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

McDermott argued the authorization included in the stopgap government funding bill in September didn’t amount to an adequate green light from Congress to send U.S. troops abroad to fight the Sunni extremist group.

{mosads}”The start of this new Congress is a perfect time to actually do something about this urgent need by debating and voting on something required of us six months ago,” he said on the House floor.

The Washington state Democrat noted that House members read the Constitution aloud on the floor last week, which has become a tradition at the start of the new Congress since House Republicans took control in 2011.

“Apparently the reading of the Constitution on the House floor last week was gratuitous since the Congress has no intention of following a key section of the Constitution. When it comes to war and peace, the authority remains firmly with the Congress. Yet, we have sent our country’s sons and daughters to war without a new bill, a serious debate or a proper vote,” McDermott said.

“Where is our sense of priority, reading the Constitution or obeying it?” McDermott asked a near-empty House chamber.