Washington – The latest vote in the House to prevent President Trump from taking military action against Iran narrowly failed on Thursday the war is approaching its third month and the off-ramp remains uncertain.
The war power resolution, introduced by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, failed 213 to 214 votes, one absent. One Republican voted with almost every Democrat, just shy of the support he needed to pass.
It is the latest test of congressional support for a war Mr Trump has said for weeks will end “soon.”
Democrats in both the House and Senate have stressed a renewed urgency to strengthen the president's authority in Iran after he threatened last week to wipe out “all civilization” unless the regime agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade. Since then, peace talks between the US and Iran have collapsed in Pakistan amid two weeks of sabotage and the US has blocked shipping using Iranian ports.
Last week's episode, where Mr. Trump threatened to attack the infrastructure of the people of Iran, causing some Republicans express discomfortbut it had little effect on how they voted for the military president's authority. The resolution is led by Democrats in the Senate as well failed in Tuesday's vote, supported by only one Republican.
House Democrats tried to pass Meeks' measure last week by unanimous consent during a brief pro forma session, but were prevented from even passing it as the Republican chairman walked out of the session early.
Meeks' decision would have ordered the president to withdraw US troops from the war against Iran, unless expressly authorized by Congress.
Three Democrats who voted against the last war powers resolution in early March — Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Greg Landsman of Ohio and Juan Vargas — supported Thursday's effort to limit Mr. Trump in Iran. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine is the lone Democrat.
“The cost of doing nothing has been too high to bear. But now is the time to act,” Landsman said in a statement last month announcing his change.
Cuellar said his change of heart was not to blame, but to “affirm the constitutional role of Congress.” But he also attributed his decision to the lack of a clear exit strategy and answers from management about their intentions.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky also voted in favor, while Republican Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio voted yes. Massie and Davidson are the only two House Republicans to break with Mr. Trump in the March election.
Meeks said after the vote that he expected Davidson to continue to support him. He told reporters, “I expected him to hold back, but I will talk to him now.” Meeks added that he has been trying to replace Golden for “some time” and those talks will continue.
Some Republicans have indicated that they may change their votes if the war continues beyond the official 60-day deadline, which falls on May 1. The 1973 War Powers Resolution – which Congress passed in response to the Vietnam War as a check on the president's power to enter conflicts without authorization from the legislative branch – banned any unauthorized participation in 60 days. But this law is considered unconstitutional by presidents of both parties.
Meeks said Thursday he plans to file another military power solution.
