Democrats’ war powers resolution dies in Senate, more expected

Senate Democrats’ war powers vote failed Wednesday after Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer vowed to flood the floor with such measures until the war in Iran ends or the upper chamber limits President Trump’s military authority in Iran.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s resolution failed in a 47-52 vote.

The Illinois Democrat and Army veteran scolded the commander-in-chief for his “incompetence,” stating that every moment Mr. Trump “leaves our troops in the muck of this illegal war of choice in Iran, he is showing that he cares more about saving his own face than leading our troops.”

Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, chided his colleagues across the aisle for voting against the measure.

“Throughout all this miasma, all this mess, this horrible war, where are the Senate Republicans? Months into this war, still no hearings, no testimony, no clarity on how it will end,” he said. “Don’t the Republicans, when we’re in war, don’t they know their responsibility? I don’t care if they’re the same party, don’t they know they have a responsibility to get the facts out and let the American people know what’s going on here?”

Republicans have voted against all of the war powers resolutions, but Mr. Schumer urged them to “join us on this resolution and end the war once and for all. End all the troubles it’s bringing to Americans once and for all.”

He said that Democrats will continue to force votes on multiple war powers resolutions to check Mr. Trump’s power by forcing him to seek congressional approval for further military action in Iran.

On Tuesday, he said 10 have been filed so far.

Advertisement Advertisement

The House and Senate have failed to pass five war powers resolutions since the war began Feb. 28.

In the lower chamber, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California said that in the coming days, Democrats will force a vote on the war powers resolution to hold the Trump administration accountable and “put an end to this costly Middle East conflict.”

• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.