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Senate Democrats are threatening to vote against their own Iran legislation due to the manner that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is bringing the bill to the Senate floor.

McConnell and Senate Republicans want to show Benjamin Netanyahu that their support of his big speech to Congress wasnt just talk: They plan to try to pass bipartisan legislation to make it harder for the U.S. to strike a nuclear deal with Iran.

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But theres a big problem: McConnells rush to bring the legislation to the full Senate before its been through a committee vote has two of the bills Democratic sponsors in full rebellion mode, potentially presaging a Democratic filibuster on the floor if the bill doesnt go through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee first.

It took only a few hours for Democratic outrage to boil over after McConnell announced the Senate would vote next week on a proposal that would allow Congress to approve or reject any agreement that the U.S. and other world powers reach with Iran to wind down its nuclear program in exchange for the loosening of some sanctions. Many Democratic Iran hawks look to Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) for guidance on Iran issues, and an outraged Menendez said on Tuesday evening hell vote against his own bill if he has to.

There is no emergency, this deal if there is one wont be concluded until almost summer. Lets do this the right way, Menendez said. If this is the process then I will have no choice but to use my voice and vote against any motion to proceed to the bill.

A Republican aide shot back at Menendez: Launching a filibuster of your own bill is going to be pretty tough to explain to constituents.

Committee approval is expected sometime next week right as the full Senate takes up the bill. That process, similar to how McConnell began moving on approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline as soon as he took over the Senate, is irking Democrats who believe McConnell is not fulfilling his pledge to empower congressional committees.

Menendezs remarks followed a critical statement from another bill co-sponsor, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who said the push to the floor was rushed and partisan.

The effort by the Republican leadership to force the bill to the floor prior to full committee consideration is contrary to the important interests at stake. Premature action also disrespects the ongoing work to build a broad coalition of colleagues in support of this bill, Kaine said.

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Democrats turn against own Iran bill