Senate Dems Get Their Way on Iran Deal:By Pete Kasperowicz
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Senate Democrats on Thursday secured a final victory for President Obama and his Iran nuclear agreement, by blocking two last-ditch efforts from Republicans to either disapprove of the deal or gum it up.
Over the last week, Democrats have prevented Republicans from even considering a resolution disapproving of the deal. In an effort to get around that opposition, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., tried to take up a new measure to prevent the Obama administration from lifting sanctions against Iran until that country frees four jailed Americans and recognizes Israel’s right to exist.
Thursday morning, McConnell tried to coax Democrats into supporting his plan, which is aimed at stopping a deal all Republicans oppose.
“The administration attempted to negotiate this deal with the singular focus of ending Iran’s nuclear program,” he said. “We already know it failed in that regard.”
“So we cannot allow Iran to be empowered as a nuclear threshold state armed with billions in sanctions relief without at least providing some protection to Israel first, without at least demanding the release of Americans who’ve languished in Iranian custody for years first,” McConnell added.
But Democrats were able to filibuster McConnell’s new language, and prevent Republicans from getting the 60 votes needed to advance it in the Senate. The measure fell 53-45.
Immediately after that vote, McConnell tried one last time to advance the disapproval resolution, but failed again. McConnell said just before the vote that it would be the last vote of the week.
The vote series effectively ended GOP efforts to delay or otherwise thwart the deal. The Obama administration has said the deal will take effect after today, as Republicans in the House and Senate appear to be out of legislative options for stopping it.
Last week, the House passed a stand-alone bill aimed at stopping Obama from easing sanctions against Iran. That bill passed 247-186, but even if McConnell tried to take up that bill in the Senate, today’s votes on his “Plan B” show that Democrats will continue to filibuster it.
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