CNN
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The Senate on Friday rejected a Democrat-fed resolution aimed at restraining the president’s ability to use military action against Iran without Congressional approval.
Sen. Tim Kane, a Virginia Democrat, introduced the resolution last week before President Donald Trump approved a US strike over three Iranian nuclear facilities under the War Powers Act of 1973. The resolution would have required Congress’ approval for further strikes against Iran because of its lack of self-defense or due to its imminent danger.
“I think this week’s events demonstrated that the war was too big to leave it to one person’s decision,” Kane said on the Senator’s floor Friday. “War is too big a matter of fact, and we can’t leave it to moods, whims and the everyday atmosphere of one person.”
Lawmakers opposed moving it down to Senate floors 53-47.
Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted for Democrats to advance the resolution. Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted against it.
Friday’s vote was a notable departure from a similar war power vote related to Iran in 2020. There, eight Republicans voted for Democrats.
Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of those who voted for the 2020 resolution and are in favour of reelection, wrote on Thursday, X:
“I don’t think there is a need for a resolution of Iran’s war powers at this point based on the stated goal that President Trump will not take further military action against Iran and his conversations with senior national security officials about the administration’s future intentions,” said the Indiana Senator, who joined Democrats to support the resolution five years ago.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins said, “We continue to believe Congress has an important responsibility to approve the sustained use of military force. That’s not the situation we are facing right now. The President has the authority to protect our nation and the military around the world against the threat of attack.”
Paul declared that he would support the resolution in his speech on the floor, where he argued that Congress would assert its constitutional powers.
“If we ask young men and women to fight and potentially give their lives, we can at least gather the courage in this body to debate whether American military intervention is justified,” he said. “To abandon constitutional responsibility by allowing administrative agencies to unilaterally introduce US troops into war is a humiliation to the Constitution and the American people.”
Paul also warned that no one could predict how the Israeli-Iran conflict would progress. “History has a wealth of examples of leaders who thought that hub-harm could shape the fate of a nation, but have proven wrong to take over them,” he said.
“The Pandora box has been opened,” Paul added. “The Congress must now focus their efforts on preventing calls for de-escalation and a change of government. The consequences will risk destabilization in the Middle East if applied to Iran.”
The House has been able to nurture a Democrat-led war power resolution since July 4th. Republican MP Thomas Massey faced a major backlash from the administration for criticizing the strike against Iran, but ultimately decided not to cultivate it during a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel conflict.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has sharply criticised its members for demanding that Trump receive Congressional approval for strikes in Iran, adding that he does not believe the War Power Act is a constitution.
“Many respected constitutional experts argue that the War Power Act is unconstitutional in itself. I am persuaded by that argument. They think it is a violation of the commander’s Article 2 powers. I think it’s right,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday.
He also called for allegations that the strike against Iran was unconstitutional or even “outrageous” to be fired each.
“If it’s not serious and stupid, it’s comical. Let’s make me clear and as clear as possible. The strike against Iran’s nuclear facility was clearly seen as commander of President Trump’s Article 2, Article 2. That shouldn’t even be controversial,” he said.
Other Republicans also criticized the resolution sharply, warning in a statement that former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell “is divorced from both strategic and constitutional realities.”
“Did you make Iran’s nuclear capabilities wrong without expanding the footprint of US military in the Middle East? Was it wrong to seize the rare opportunity that Israeli operations have made in the last 20 months? Did they clearly not advance US interests in that region? He asked.