Washington – The House on Wednesday passed a measure that would force President Trump to end the war with Iran without Congressional approval, marking the first time the lower chamber has defied the White House over the dispute.
The House voted 215 to 208 to approve the war powers resolution with the help of four Republicans. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who voted against the the previous three attempts failedhe also withdrew his opposition and voted for this measure, which made his party have a consensus on this issue.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted for the Democrats in favor of the measure.
Democrats in the chamber erupted in applause after it passed.
The vote was supposed to take place before lawmakers left for the Memorial Day recess, but House GOP leaders suddenly. he drew a vote when it became clear that they did not have the numbers to stop it. Several Republicans were absent and others were expected to support it.
The Senate developed the same measure in May to govern Mr. Trump on Iran after four Republicans joined all but one Democrat to push it forward. The absence of three Republicans also helped bring success after the previous seven failed ballots.
But the Senate process vote was the first step toward passage, and Republicans will have another chance to block it in the coming days.
It is unclear when they plan to vote on the House version.
Even if the war power resolution is approved by both chambers, it faces a surefire presidential veto. The measure currently lacks the two-thirds support in both chambers needed to override a veto.
Support for the war among some Republicans waned after the dispute passed a 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which states that the president must withdraw troops from the war if Congress does not authorize war. The fight passed the May 1 deadline, but officials say a fragile ceasefire stopped the clock in early April, although both sides have been fighting since then.
Republicans voted in favor of limiting the military power of Mr. Trump in Iran is uncomfortable with the lack of congressional approval of the war and the strategy to end it. Some fear the unpopularity of the war and the economic downturn could hurt the GOP’s chances of controlling Congress after the midterm elections in November.
GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa, who is running for the Senate, said in a private interview at a campaign stop last week that the battle could be “a political case“if it continues “over the next few weeks,” according to audio obtained by CBS News.
But Mr. Trump said last month that he was “in no rush” to strike a deal with Iran before the terms began.
“Everybody says, ‘Oh, midterms, I’m in a hurry.’ I’m not in a hurry,” he said.
The resolution approved Wednesday was introduced in April by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It directs the president “to withdraw the United States Armed Forces from combat with Iran,” unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force.
Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, earlier Wednesday called it a “stupid political vote” that weakens the president’s hand as he negotiates with Iran.
During floor debate on the measure on May 20, Democrats questioned why Republicans did not vote on authorizing the military to give Mr. Trump’s legal channels to attack Iran.
“If our Republican colleagues believe this is right, they should bring the AUMF down,” Meeks said.
There has been little momentum so far after the AUMF that Barrett introduced in early May.
Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, said there are “better tools” for Congress to assert its authority.
“We actually have the power to provide guidance on how the money should be spent,” Kiley said, referring to Congress’s power over the fund. “I understand why people want to use whatever tools are available, but I believe that Congress should use those tools of congressional oversight and the powers that we have under Article I that really have teeth here.”
