The attempt by Democrats in the U.S. Senate to limit Trump’s presidential power by passing a resolution invoking the War Powers Act went down to defeat, pretty much along party lines, in a vote Friday evening, by a tally of 53-47.
The Senate on Friday blocked a Democratic resolution that would have forced President Trump to go to Congress for approval of further military action against Iran, dealing a blow to efforts to rein in his war powers.
The 53-to-47 vote against bringing up the resolution, mostly along party lines, came nearly a week after the president unilaterally ordered strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities without consulting the House and Senate. It also followed a searing debate on the Senate floor over the role of Congress in authorizing the use of military force.
The measure, sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, invoked the War Powers Act, a 1973 law aimed at limiting a president’s power to enter an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. It would have required the White House to notify lawmakers and seek the approval of both the House and Senate before U.S. forces could take further military action against Iran.
It was a direct attack on President Trump and his administration, after the successful airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in recent days, something that Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) brought up during debate on the bill on the Senate floor:
Democrats, of course, rushed to turn this successful strike into a political fight. National security moves fast. That’s why our Constitution says: ‘Give the commander in chief real authority.’
Barrasso added that passage of the war powers provision would “prevent the president from protecting us in the future.”
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Sen. Kaine, a former Democratic vice presidential nominee, also spoke on the floor Friday, in a vain attempt to rally Trump detractors to back his political bill:
I think the events of this week have demonstrated that war is too big to be consigned to the decisions of any one person.
The Hill’s reporting on the Kaine resolution linked above noted that some had thought more GOP senators would vote for it, “but some backed off after Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday that has held up in recent days.”
One Democrat and one Republican crossed the aisle:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the lone GOP lawmaker to vote with Democrats. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), an ardent backer of Israel, voted with Republicans.
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At one point, there was also a similar resolution floating around in the lower chamber, cosponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). The House resolution has since been scrapped.
This is a developing story, RedState will bring you more information on the story as warranted.
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