Washington, DC – The Senate just passed a motion to discharge the war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine to end the war in Iran, 50-47, in a major blow to President Trump’s unauthorized and backfiring war. The Senate would still need to vote on final passage in order for the resolution to pass the Senate, which is not assured. Regardless, it sends a powerful political signal to the President as he considers whether to choose diplomacy or escalation in the days to come.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana became the 4th Republican Senator to vote for a resolution to end the Iran war, joining Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky. While Paul has voted for every war powers resolution, the growing list of Republican defections has all transpired in the last few weeks amid rising gas prices and amid concerns that the war may reignite. Republican absences ensured the resolution passed, and was not a tie.
“This is a major win for every American who has mobilized against this immoral, catastrophic war and who is struggling economically amid rising gas prices,” said Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council. “The President has been sent a very clear signal by the Senate, including some of his own allies: end this war. Do not relaunch a war that has been a disaster to American and regional security and for the American economy.”
Gas prices have risen more than $1.50 / gallon, and American consumers have spent more than $42.8 billion more on elevated gas prices alone since the war began. Moreover, the President claimed this week that he was planning to launch major new military operations in Iran but held off at the request of foreign leaders – not after consulting with Congress or after recognizing the deep and broad opposition to this war among the American public.
“Donald Trump has an exit ramp from this war in the form of a very good deal that is coming into picture: he needs to take it,” said Abdi. “Finally, the hard work of turning public opposition to the war into votes against it is bearing fruit. Now, the Senate needs to finish the job and pass the resolution, and the House of Representatives needs to follow suit to send it to the President’s desk.”
Discharge is a procedural motion that brings the resolution forward for a full debate and vote. Senators can vote for a discharge position while opposing its passage from the Senate, so the nuanced position of the swing Senators could be highly important in the expected vote in the days to come. Moreover, passage is just one of three steps needed to turn this resolution into law. Next, it would need to pass the House of Representatives and be signed into law, though the President would likely be expected to reject it with a veto. To override a veto requires two-thirds of each chamber, which is difficult to do. However, the passage of this resolution sends a clear political signal and is a defeat for those who want this war to continue and escalate.
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