Senate to Vote on Resolution to Halt Iran War as Gas Prices Upend Midterms/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ The Senate is preparing to vote on a war powers resolution seeking to end President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran. The vote comes as surging gasoline and diesel prices make the seven-month conflict a major issue in the midterm elections. Some Republicans are reconsidering their support, although the resolution would largely express congressional disapproval rather than carry the full force of law.
Quick Look
- The Senate will vote Thursday on an Iran war powers resolution.
- The conflict has continued for more than seven months.
- Diesel prices have nearly doubled and surpassed $6 per gallon.
- Some Republican senators are considering breaking with Trump.
- This will be the Senate’s 14th war powers vote since Feb. 28.
- The Iran conflict has cost approximately $43.5 billion.
- Congress has not approved the White House’s additional $87.6 billion request.
- The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war.
Deep Look
Senate prepares for major Iran war vote
WASHINGTON — Senators increasingly concerned about the Iran war are scheduled to vote Thursday on a war powers resolution seeking to halt President Donald Trump’s military campaign.
The conflict has been widely blamed for sharply higher fuel prices and has become a defining issue in the midterm elections.
The Senate vote comes days after Trump delivered a forceful address to the United Nations in which he threatened to “annihilate” Iran.
It may be lawmakers’ final opportunity before November’s elections to formally register their position on the war. A small but growing number of Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump as the conflict drags on and voters express frustration over its economic consequences.
Kaine says Republicans are finally listening
Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the Democrat leading the resolution, accused Republican lawmakers of supporting an unauthorized war while ignoring their constituents.
“They have been carrying water for this ridiculous and illegal war for months and months and months and not listening to their constituents,” Kaine said. “And now they finally are.”
A new survey from The Associated Press and KFF found that about half of rural American voters believe the economy is worse than when Trump returned to office.
The prices of groceries, gasoline and healthcare ranked among their most significant concerns.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said he is now leaning toward supporting the measure.
“We’ve got to break the cycle,” Tillis said.
Resolution would send political message
War powers resolutions are among Congress’ strongest available methods for formally challenging a president’s military campaign, aside from withholding funding.
However, such resolutions are largely political statements and do not carry the same legal effect as legislation. They do not go to the president for a signature or veto.
A successful vote would still be a significant rebuke of Trump, particularly if Republicans join Democrats in supporting it shortly before the midterm elections.
It would also demonstrate growing congressional discomfort with the administration’s strategy and its failure to establish a clear conclusion to the conflict.
Fuel prices create problems for Republicans
Republican leaders who control Congress have largely avoided confronting Trump over the war, which has passed the seven-month mark.
That reluctance is beginning to weaken as higher gasoline and diesel costs place additional financial pressure on voters.
Diesel prices have nearly doubled and now exceed $6 a gallonaccording to AAA. Higher diesel costs can spread throughout the economy because trucks transport food, retail products and industrial materials.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana recently returned from campaigning for vulnerable Republican candidates in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. He urged Trump to deliver a prime-time speech explaining the administration’s war strategy and how the conflict will end.
“People are confused about the war and upset about the cost of living,” Kennedy said.
Despite his concerns, Kennedy has not said he is prepared to vote against the war.
Some Republicans continue defending Trump
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri opposes the war powers resolution and maintains that Trump has the legal authority to continue military operations.
“My own view is that the focus right now needs to be on attacking the cost of living issues,” Hawley said.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed Republican attempts to separate themselves from Trump’s economic and military policies.
“Now all of a sudden they’re waking up,” Jeffries said.
Democrats argue that Republicans supported Trump’s war strategy for months and only began objecting after fuel prices started threatening their election prospects.
Congress has held repeated war powers votes
Thursday’s action will be the 14th time the Senate has considered a war powers resolution since Trump launched the Iran conflict on Feb. 28.
Earlier this month, the House approved such a resolution for the third time. Seven Republicans joined Democrats, including Iowa Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
Both represent a battleground state where rural affordability concerns are dominating the midterm campaigns.
The Senate has found it more difficult to challenge Trump successfully.
In June, four Republican senators joined Democrats to approve a war powers resolution. Republican lawmakers abruptly reversed course the following day after Trump criticized them during a private lunch.
Republican senator reversed vote after confrontation
Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy initially defended his support for the June resolution during the private meeting with Trump.
The disagreement reportedly escalated into a shouting match between Cassidy and the president.
Cassidy later reversed his position and opposed the war powers resolution after receiving a personal briefing from the White House.
The episode demonstrated the political pressure Republican lawmakers face when considering whether to challenge Trump on military policy.
Iran war has cost $43.5 billion
With the conflict continuing, Congress is considering additional ways to force the administration to reconsider its strategy.
The war has cost approximately $43.5 billion so far, adding urgency to questions about its objectives, duration and impact on federal spending.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie sought to advance articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Republican leaders then abruptly adjourned the House and sent members home to campaign, preventing a potential vote on Massie’s effort.
Congress could restrict military funding
Lawmakers also have the constitutional power to restrict or eliminate funding for military operations.
Republicans have so far been reluctant to use that authority against Trump. Democrats are expected to pursue funding restrictions if they win control of either chamber in the midterm elections.
Meanwhile, the White House’s request for an additional $87.6 billion covering the war and other administration priorities remains stalled in Congress.
The unresolved request gives lawmakers another opportunity to challenge the administration’s military plans.
War Powers Act tests constitutional authority
Congress enacted the War Powers Act following the Vietnam War to impose greater accountability on presidents who deploy the military without a formal declaration of war.
The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare warwhile designating the president as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The law attempts to balance those responsibilities by requiring a president to seek congressional approval within 60 days of launching military action. Otherwise, the president risks formal disapproval and demands from Congress to end the operation.
The latest resolution renews the longstanding debate over how much authority a president should have to conduct an extended war without explicit authorization from lawmakers.
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