The US House of Representatives narrowly rejected a Democratic-led resolution to suspend the war against Iran until hostilities have been authorized by Congress. This attempt to curb President Donald Trump’s military campaign failed by the narrowest possible margin.
The House voted 212 to 212 on this war powers resolution, meaning its rejection for lack of an absolute majority, despite increased support from some Republicans.
Three Republican allies of Trump – Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky – supported the resolution, while one Democrat – Jared Golden of Maine – opposed it.
It was the third House vote this year on a resolution regarding Iran’s war powers, and the first since the conflict reached the May 1 60-day deadline for Trump to address Congress. Trump then declared that a ceasefire had ‘ended’ hostilities against Iran.
Seven votes also failed in the Senate.
The votes are becoming increasingly close, while Trump’s Republican camp only has a slim majority in both chambers. The last resolution of the House failed on April 16 by 213 votes to 214, with one member abstaining.
During this vote, only one Republican supported the resolution.
The gap is also narrowing in the Senate, where a similar resolution was blocked by 50 votes to 49 on Wednesday, with three Republicans unanimously joining Democrats (with one exception) to vote in favor of the measure.
DEMOCRATS INVOKE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Democrats urged Trump to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force in the Iranian conflict, recalling that the US Constitution stipulates that only the legislature, not the president, can declare war.
They warned that Trump may have dragged the country into a protracted conflict without setting a clear strategy, and railed against rising prices for gasoline, food and other goods since the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Democrats have made purchasing power a central theme of their economic message ahead of the midterm elections in November, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.
Producer prices in the United States recorded their strongest increase in four years in April, driven by the surge in the costs of goods and services since the start of the war.
“It’s time for the president to speak to us, and it’s time for us, I believe, to end this war,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during the debate.
THE WHITE HOUSE INVOKE THE POWERS OF THE CHIEF OF THE ARMIES
Republicans – as well as the White House – argue that Trump’s actions are legal and fall within his prerogatives as commander in chief to protect the United States by ordering limited military operations in the face of an imminent threat.
Some Republicans in Congress have accused Democrats of only introducing war powers resolutions out of partisan opposition to Trump.
“It’s 100 percent theater,” said Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, during the debate. He accused Democrats of giving hope to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by multiplying these resolutions.
