House Democrats Forced to Choose Sides in Iran Debate

By Emma Dumain Posted at 3:50 a.m. on April 10

The White House wants House members like Israel to get behind the Iran nuclear deal. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

House Democrats on the fence about the White Houses proposed nuclear deal with Iran will be asked next week to close ranks and get behind the president.

With the House and Senate getting back to work on April 13 after a two-week recess, most of the legislative action is set to be in the Senate, where the Foreign Relations Committee will begin marking up its bill giving Congress power to override President Barack Obamas emerging deal to disarm Iran.

But Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, has made it clear that, short of the White Housedramatically changing course, he would support the House acting on similar legislation, perhaps even taking up the Senates product (assuming it passes).

It means a large number of House Democrats will, sooner ratherthan later, have to decide to whom they owe the most loyalty: their president, who opposes congressional action he says will undermine administration-level negotiations and diplomacy; or Israel, an important ally that could be inherentlythreatened by an Iran with nuclearcapabilities.

Obama administration officials are set to begin acharm offensive tour next week, aimed at talking Republicans down from seeking to override the emerging dealand convincing wavering Democratsto get on their side.

On April 13 at 5 p.m., Secretary of State John Kerry, Energy Secretary Ernest J. Moniz and Treasury Secretary Jacob J.Lew, among others, will be on Capitol Hill to provide House lawmakers in both parties aclassified briefing on the so-called P5+1 agreement, which would facilitate the nuclear disarmament of Iran over a 15-year period and must be signed off on by the end of June.

At House Democrats regularly scheduled Tuesday caucus meeting, Kerry and Monizare slatedto make a repeat appearance.

Some House Democrats have already started drawing lines in the sand, with senior lawmakers positionslikely to influence some undecideds.

See more here:
House Democrats Forced to Choose Sides in Iran Debate

Related Posts

Comments are closed.