The Hill – 04/26/2015 – Conservative Republicans are looking for ways to force Democrats to walk the plank in a series of tough votes over Iran.
GOP senators want to attach amendments to the recent deal struck between Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) that would allow Congress to weigh in on any agreement reached between the Obama administration and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program.
The White House and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) are warning against changes that could erode support from Democrats and President Obama.
But the GOP is looking for options that would place Democrats between the proverbial rock and a hard place, forcing them to choose between opening themselves up to attack by voting against the amendments, or angering Obama and Reid by backing them.
The White House has spent significant political capital on gathering support for the Iran nuclear talks, repeatedly dispatching high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, to meet publicly and privately with lawmakers.
But proposals from presidential hopeful Sen. Marco Rubio, among others, could throw a wrench in the works.
Another amendment from Rubio and Kirk, as well a separate amendment from Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), ties the agreement to the release of Americans currently being held in Iran.
Marie Harf, the acting State Department spokesperson, told reporters that the administration had already raised the issue of the imprisoned Americans with Iran, adding, “We do everything we can.”
Meanwhile, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) wants to reinsert a requirement that Obama be able to certify that Iran hasn’t carried out or directly supported terrorism against the United States or a U.S. citizen.
The terrorism certification was removed as part of the agreement reached by Cardin and Corker, and Democratic support would be in serious doubt if it returned.
Rubio has introduced another amendment to ensure that any sanctions relief under a nuclear deal doesn’t affect congressional and Executive sanctions placed on Iran for different reasons: its support of terrorism, its human rights violations or its ballistic missile program.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who like Kirk faces a potentially tight reelection fight next year, has introduced two amendments that would allow Congress to approve a final deal, and also requires a higher threshold of support than under Corker-Cardin.
Under one other amendment, the final deal would have to be submitted to the Senate as a treaty — something the administration had adamantly said the agreement is not.
Under yet another amendment, the agreement would have to get support from half of the members in both the House and Senate.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), another 2016 hopeful, also wants to weigh in on the Iran legislation. He has filed an amendment with Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who is up for reelection next year, to bolster congressional review of any Iran deal.
The Texas Republican said that it “imperative that, at the very least, the president obtain majority support for his deal from both houses of Congress before moving forward.”
There’s no guarantee that the series of potentially tricky amendments will get a vote, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pledged a “robust amendment process.”.