Senate

Senate set to bypass Iran fight amid growing tensions

by Jordain Carney - 06/24/19 6:57 PM ET

The Senate is poised to deep-freeze a debate over President Trump’s war authority amid growing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) moved on Monday evening to wrap up a mammoth defense bill, which Democrats had hoped to use as a vehicle for forcing a vote on Trump’s ability to go to war with Iran.

McConnell’s move paves the way for a vote as soon as Wednesday to formally cut off debate, unless senators agree to hold the vote sooner. Republicans want to wrap up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the end of the week.

{mosads}Senators could still try to reach a deal to hold amendment votes but that would require the sign off of every senator — an uphill climb in the GOP-controlled Senate. Any attempt to get a vote on one amendment would also likely spark similar calls on the nearly 600 amendments that have been filed to the NDAA.

Instead, Democrats will have to decide if they will prevent Republicans from cutting off debate in order to get a vote on an amendment from Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.) and Tom Udall (N.M.) that would block funding for military action against Iran unless Trump had received congressional approval.

The move would mark a significant step for Democrats because they would be blocking a bill that has passed for nearly 60 years in overwhelmingly bipartisan votes.The bill also authorizes funding for projects in many of their home states.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said that he hoped the Iran amendment did not get a vote.

“I’d like to have it not get a vote,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on McConnell to delay passage of the NDAA until after the Senate Democratic debates this week, arguing that the Senate should hold the Iran vote and every Democrat should be present to vote on it.

To block the bill, if every senator voted, they would need 41 members agreeing to not advance the NDAA until they were able to force a vote on the Iran amendment.

Senators formally voted 86-6 to start debate on the NDAA on Monday evening. Democratic Sens. Tom Carper (Del.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Udall and Ron Wyden (Ore.) voted against starting debate on the bill.

Udall said he voted against starting debate because they didn’t have a commitment that the Iran amendment would receive a vote.

“It would be the height of irresponsibility, and a true abdication of our constitutional duty, to finish the NDAA while blocking a vote on our urgent, bipartisan amendment to prevent an unauthorized war. … The Senate cannot duck this vote, and Majority Leader McConnell should honor his commitment to an open amendment process. We cannot do our constitutional duty without one,” Udall said in a statement.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, wouldn’t rule out that Democrats could try to block the bill unless they can get a vote on the Iran amendment

“If McConnell decides to take a stand against any amendments then we’re going to have to take a whip count,” Durbin said.

Asked if he thought enough Democrats would vote to block the NDAA if they can’t get a vote on the Iran amendment he added “let’s do the math. They have 53 votes they need seven. We have 47. So the question is can we hold 41 of the 47.”

—updated at 12:30 a.m.