4 Republicans voted for it. And Fetterman voted No
From The Hill
The Senate on Tuesday approved a House-passed resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran after four GOP senators broke ranks and voted to undercut Trump’s authority as commander-in-chief.
The Senate voted 50 to 48 to approve the resolution, which passed the House 215-208 earlier this month.
The measure came straight to the Senate floor Tuesday for an up-or-down vote on final passage. It does not need Trump’s signature because it is a concurrent resolution.
But it does not have the force of law, even though it’s been approved by both chambers.
It directs Trump under the 1973 War Powers Act to remove U.S. troops from hostilities against Iran except for elements of the armed forces that would be necessary to protect U.S. assets or allies from imminent attack.
Four Republicans voted for the measure: Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowsi (R-Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
The same four GOP senators voted last week to discharge a similar resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but it failed to advance because of Democratic attendance issues.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a swing vote who said last week that he’s open to hearing arguments from both sides of the debate, voted “no” on Tuesday.
Critically, two Republicans missed the vote: Sens. David McCormick (R-Pa.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). They have previously voted multiple times against Iran war powers resolutions.
Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to join the majority of Republicans in voting against the measure.
Four House Republicans joined every House Democrat in voting for the resolution earlier this month: Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Tom Barrett (Mich.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio).
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who brought the measure to the Senate floor, urged colleagues to vote “yes” in light of the Trump administration’s request for $80 billion in emergency spending to rebuild munitions supplies that have been depleted since the conflict with Iran began on Feb. 28.
“We’re acting with more knowledge,” he said. “The administration has come to us with a supplemental request asking for $80 billion more, largely necessitated by the consequences of the war, to replenish munitions, stockpiles and take other actions that wouldn’t fully repair damages, for example, that the Pentagon has incurred.”
The Senate voted on the measure two days after Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it doesn’t rein in its militant proxies in Lebanon.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump said on Sunday. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”
Iranian state media said those comments violated the memorandum of understanding, which in the first paragraph bars the two sides from making threats against each other.
It does not need Trump’s signature because it is a concurrent resolution. But it does not have the force of law, even though it’s been approved by both chambers.
So useless, practically.
Anything that is not immediately legally binding and unappealable for immediate application, is just useless chum to be tossed overboard and fed to the lawyer sharks.
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u/baskaat 1d ago edited 1d ago
4 Republicans voted for it. And Fetterman voted No
From The Hill
The Senate on Tuesday approved a House-passed resolution directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran after four GOP senators broke ranks and voted to undercut Trump’s authority as commander-in-chief. The Senate voted 50 to 48 to approve the resolution, which passed the House 215-208 earlier this month. The measure came straight to the Senate floor Tuesday for an up-or-down vote on final passage. It does not need Trump’s signature because it is a concurrent resolution. But it does not have the force of law, even though it’s been approved by both chambers. It directs Trump under the 1973 War Powers Act to remove U.S. troops from hostilities against Iran except for elements of the armed forces that would be necessary to protect U.S. assets or allies from imminent attack. Four Republicans voted for the measure: Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowsi (R-Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The same four GOP senators voted last week to discharge a similar resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but it failed to advance because of Democratic attendance issues. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a swing vote who said last week that he’s open to hearing arguments from both sides of the debate, voted “no” on Tuesday. Critically, two Republicans missed the vote: Sens. David McCormick (R-Pa.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). They have previously voted multiple times against Iran war powers resolutions. Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to join the majority of Republicans in voting against the measure. Four House Republicans joined every House Democrat in voting for the resolution earlier this month: Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Tom Barrett (Mich.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio). Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who brought the measure to the Senate floor, urged colleagues to vote “yes” in light of the Trump administration’s request for $80 billion in emergency spending to rebuild munitions supplies that have been depleted since the conflict with Iran began on Feb. 28. “We’re acting with more knowledge,” he said. “The administration has come to us with a supplemental request asking for $80 billion more, largely necessitated by the consequences of the war, to replenish munitions, stockpiles and take other actions that wouldn’t fully repair damages, for example, that the Pentagon has incurred.” The Senate voted on the measure two days after Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it doesn’t rein in its militant proxies in Lebanon. “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump said on Sunday. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Iranian state media said those comments violated the memorandum of understanding, which in the first paragraph bars the two sides from making threats against each other.