Posted on 04/30/2015 10:55:21 AM PDT by Dave346
Sen. Tom Cotton is insisting on simple majority votes on contentious amendments to legislation to provide congressional review of any final nuclear deal with Iran, apparently stymieing the possibility of moving forward, at least for now.
The Arkansas Republican sought to line up a pair of amendments that supportive Democratic senators have said could cause them to remove support for the bill. One of those, sponsored by Cotton, would require Iran to allow inspectors full access to suspicious sites. The other, led by Florida Republican Marco Rubio, would require Tehran to recognize Israel’s right to exist.
“I think some of the tactics that are now being deployed are going to make it much more difficult for us to be able to proceed in an orderly way,” Foreign Relations ranking member Benjamin L. Cardin said.
Cotton criticized Cardin for other procedural actions, including the move by bill advocates to lay down a generally innocuous amendment in the first slot. That amendment would require transmission of any final nuclear agreement in Farsi to Congress.
Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., praised both Cardin and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., “for working with us on what was going to be a series of votes.”
Corker then lamented what seemed to be developing on the floor.
“I have a sense that the context of this has just changed, and so I regret that,” Corker said. “I’ve been working with numbers of senators on some really controversial votes that we’re willing to make, as we already have. Matter of fact, the only two votes we’ve had thus far were considered poison pill votes, and my friend from Maryland was willing to have more poison pill votes, if you want to call them that, tough votes, but the context of this debate may have just changed.”
The problem might well be the insistence of Cotton and others on simple-majority thresholds, rather than the 60-vote margin that’s become quite customary regarding contentious amendments.
Cotton disputed the idea that the amendments he sought votes on would imperil the underlying bill, even though Cardin and others have argued they are the type of amendments that could shatter a fragile agreement with the White House and lead to the return of a presidential veto threat.
“Let’s have a talk about poison pill amendments. I would say these are not poison pills, these are vitamin pills. They’re designed to strengthen this legislation and strengthen the U.S. negotiating position,” Cotton said. “Who could object that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state? And that Iran should not be allowed a nuclear weapon if they won’t recognize that right?”
On Wednesday, Rubio delivered a lengthy floor speech making similar pleas for amendment votes.
“If you don’t want to vote on things, don’t run for the Senate. If you don’t want to vote on things, don’t run for office. Be a columnist. Get a talk show,” Rubio said on the floor. “Everyone who runs for office knows that what we are called to do here is vote on issues that sometimes we’re uncomfortable on. And there is a microphone here at your desk. Come to the floor and give a speech and explain to the world why you are voting against a deal that requires Israel to have a right to exist.”
Senator Cotton offered amendment #1197 to the underlying bill, H.R.1191. He then offered a second degree amendment on behalf of Senator Rubio, which is SA #1198, to SA #1197.
Rubio has stood head and shoulders over the rest of the Presidential field on this. He is emerging as a leader!!
On Amnesty?
He has repented of his sins on amnesty. Who by the way, is the great anti-amnesty candidate you support?
The Rube got suckered again yesterday. He was promised a a floor vote on his two amendments, and then Corker yanked the rug out from under him, leaving him sputtering and walking off in a huff.
Why does it make any difference at all what Congress votes on this issue, or, really, on ANY issue? Obama will do what he wants; the GOP will go along with it. End of story.
Wow, I didn’t realize there were any FReepers left who were still drinking Rubio’s kool aid. It’s like spotting a nearly extinct animal in the wild.
End of story is correct.
Obama cannot castrate the West fast enough...
Divided government is a mess, but it’s a good mess because all the other governments are worse.
the great anti-amnesty candidate
Isn’t that Walker?
lol, whut?
Anyway...
The hell he has.
People stupid enough to push an amnesty candidate deserve to lose their homes when that amnesty candidate demands places for them to live.
There is no repentance. He’s ducked his responsibility with half heated claims and support for other amnesty junkies.
They share a disdain for America.
Rubio hasn’t repented. He still supports amnesty. He just thinks he needs to be slicker about how he presents the next one.
Poison pill inclusion means they want war.
FU CORKSUCKER
LOL - Mr. Amnesty? LOL!!!
Newbie Troll Alert
iowacornman
Since Aug 22, 2014
Bingo.
I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.
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