WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Senate Republicans on Wednesday again blocked Democratic legislation that would halt war with Iran, but the number of GOP senators voting against the war grew.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the war for the first time since it began at the end of February. Two other Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky, also voted against the war, as they had done previously.
The war powers legislation ultimately failed to advance 49-50, with Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania the only Democrat to oppose it, yet the close tally reflected growing unease with Trump’s war. Several other Republican senators have signaled they want Congress to weigh in on the direction of the conflict.
鈥淭here will be a day 鈥� and it might be soon, I believe 鈥� where this Senate will say to the president, 鈥楽top this war,'” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has spearheaded his party’s tactic of forcing repeated votes on the war, said before the vote.
Even if it passes the Senate, would have a slim chance of passing the House and would also certainly be vetoed by Trump. But Democrats say the votes are about building political pressure on the president either to withdraw from the conflict or seek congressional authorization to wage the war.
Trump officials downplay role for Congress
The White House, meanwhile, has asserted that it does for the war and has circumvented legal requirements to gain approval from Congress to continue the military campaign. It claims that it has 鈥渢erminated鈥� hostilities with Iran because the U.S. has entered a ceasefire.
That posture has created tension between the Republican-controlled Congress and the White House because presidents under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 are required to obtain authorization from Congress after 60 days of engaging in a conflict.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers this week that the U.S. could start attacking Iran again without the White House seeking congressional approval. He told Murkowski during a that the Trump administration believes it has 鈥渁ll the authorities necessary.鈥�
Murkowski voiced skepticism about that argument. She pointed to the troops and war ships deployed to the region, saying, 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 appear that hostilities have ended.鈥�
GOP leaders back the war, but unease grows
Republican leadership has continued to back the war with Iran, arguing that the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz that has blocked most commercial shipping puts more economic pressure on Iran than it does on the U.S.
鈥淚ran鈥檚 economy is on life support. Its leadership is eliminated,鈥� said Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Republican in leadership, during a floor speech Wednesday.
He also argued that the Democratic effort on the war is all about undermining Trump. Forcing the issue just as he arrived in China for a summit would 鈥減ull out the rug from under him,鈥� Barrasso said.
Still, Republicans are also growing uneasy about the high gas prices, especially as the November elections draw near.
Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, said Wednesday he鈥檇 prefer that the two branches of government work out the constitutional issues instead of a congressional war powers vote or a potential challenge in court.
The two sides should sit down together and say 鈥渨e have shared constitutional responsibilities,鈥� Rounds said.
Democrats plan to keep forcing weekly votes on war powers resolutions and are looking ahead to put limitations on Trump during the debate over annual legislation that authorizes and funds the military.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat who sponsored Wednesday’s resolution, told reporters that he believes there is an 鈥渆rosion of support, erosion of enthusiasm, an increase in skepticism鈥� about the war from Republicans.
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