Senate

Durbin: Iran amendment could kill energy bill

by Jordain Carney - 04/27/16 11:49 AM ET

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday warned that Democrats could block an energy and water funding bill over an Iran-related amendment.

Democrats are raising the alarm over an amendment from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that would block the government from using federal funds to buy Iran’s heavy water, which can be used in nuclear reactors.

{mosads}”The administration made it clear they will veto the bill over this, and we know that it’s politically charged,” Durbin told reporters.

Asked whether Democrats would block the legislation, Durbin added that they were “in a strong position going to the floor.”

Democrats huddled Wednesday to discuss how to proceed on the energy and water appropriations bill. Republicans will need six Democrats to get it over procedural hurdles.

But Durbin and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said that Cotton’s amendment is the sort of “poison pill” that leadership in both parties have been trying to avoid.

“I mean the idea is hit the number — hit the budget number — avoid the poison pills. The Cotton amendment as written is a poison pill,” Durbin said, adding that Cotton’s proposal is “veto bait.”

Cotton’s amendment currently isn’t scheduled to get a vote. Durbin, however, warned that because it’s germane — or on topic — Cotton will be able to bring it up if senators invoke cloture.

It’s not the first time a maneuver by Cotton has threatened to undermine an otherwise bipartisan piece of legislation. Cotton and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a former presidential candidate, tried to force a vote last year on requiring Iran to recognize Israel’s right to exist as part of any nuclear deal.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, said he was optimistic the standoff could be resolved, adding that the current scuffle represents a “first test” for the GOP’s goal of passing the 12 individual appropriations bills.

“I’m happy to support his amendment, but I just don’t know whether — I don’t want to sink the appropriations process,” he told reporters.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) “has been caught off guard by his fellow Republicans.”

“Senator Cotton’s amendment is the definition of a poison pill and will trigger a presidential veto. For the appropriations process to continue productively, Senator McConnell needs to find a way to stop being blindsided by his fellow Republicans,” he said in a statement.