|
 "This is a close call, but after a lengthy review, I will vote to
disapprove the deal," Cardin, the top Democrat on the influential
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an opinion column to be
published in The Washington Post.
The Maryland lawmaker became the third Senate Democrat to announce
his opposition. The others, Charles Schumer of New York and Robert
Menendez of New Jersey, came out against it last month.
But the "yes" list in the Senate reached 38 on Friday, as Michael
Bennet of Colorado announced his support for the deal. All of the
lawmakers in favor are Democrats or independents who generally vote
with them.
That left just five of Obama's fellow Democrats in the chamber
undecided, including Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Maria
Cantwell of Washington, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Gary Peters of
Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
 Under a law co-written by Cardin and signed by Obama in May,
Congress has until Sept. 17 to vote on a "resolution of disapproval"
of the nuclear agreement, announced on July 14 between the United
States, five other world powers and Tehran.
If such a resolution passed Congress and lawmakers overrode Obama's
promised veto, it would weaken the nuclear deal by eliminating the
president's ability to waive many sanctions on Iran, a key component
of the pact.
When Cardin's fellow Maryland Democrat, Barbara Mikulski, became the
34th senator supporting the deal on Wednesday, Obama was assured
that Congress would sustain a veto. Deal opponents need two-thirds
majorities in both the 100-member Senate and 435-seat House of
Representatives to override a veto.
HOPE FOR 41
Deal supporters have been hoping to muster 41 Senate votes to use
the filibuster procedural rule to block a vote on a disapproval
resolution in the Senate and keep Obama from having to use his veto.
Cardin's announcement makes that target a more difficult one, more
so as a spokesman for Manchin said he had decided he would not
support a filibuster, although he has yet to make up his mind about
the nuclear agreement itself.
[to top of second column] |
Lawmakers will begin to consider the resolution of disapproval as
soon as they return from their August recess on Tuesday. The first
vote in the House of Representatives is expected next week and the
Senate could also begin voting as soon as next week.
With Republicans virtually united in opposition, Democrats have
spent the past two months rallying support for an agreement seen as
a potential legacy foreign policy achievement for the president.
Bennet, like many other lawmakers who support the pact, said it is
not perfect but seems like the best way to keep Iran from obtaining
a nuclear weapon.
"Our primary objectives are to prevent Iran from having a nuclear
weapon, make sure Israel is safe and, if possible, avoid another war
in the Middle East," Bennet said in a statement. "This agreement
represents a flawed, but important step to accomplish those goals."
No Republican in either the House or Senate has backed the nuclear
deal.
One Republican seen as a possible deal supporter, Republican Senator
Susan Collins of Maine, is expected to announce her position after
Congress returns to Washington next week.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Peter Cooney, Susan
Heavey and Steve Orlofsky)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
