The Iran Sanctions BattleAIPAC, Congress back away from vote
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Has U.S. President Obama won the battle on Iran sanctions? A month ago, it appeared the U.S. Congress was backing a sanctions bill introduced by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). But in a stunning turnabout, both Menendez and now the pro-Israel lobby have backed away from calling for a vote on the legislation. This week, Menendez, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the bill required bipartisan support and indicated he is no longer pushing for a vote at this time. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) then released a statement saying, "We agree with the Chairman that stopping the Iranian nuclear program should rest on bipartisan support and that there should not be a vote at this time on the measure.” AIPAC and other Jewish groups had vowed to push hard in Congress for new sanctions, claiming the interim deal between Iran and world powers was lopsided in favor of Iran. According to the Times of Israel, "AIPAC continued to press for passage until the bill took on a partisan hue when 42 Republicans, led by Kirk, threatened parliamentary maneuvers to force a vote on the bill. AIPAC studiously avoids any appearance of partisanship." Obama heavily pressured lawmakers not to push for a sanctions bill, summoning key players to the White House and urging Democrats to give the administration more time for negotiations. In his recent State of the Union Address, Obama declared: "“Let me be clear: if this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it.” Email to a friend, Share on Facebook, Share on Twitter, and more: ![]() |
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