Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday gave his clearest endorsement yet of a bipartisan bill that would require President Obama to submit any deal to Congress.
“Many wish the bill was stronger. I don’t disagree with them. But this is a piece of legislation worthy of our support,” the Kentucky Republican said, a day after he moved to limit debate on the measure and block further attempts by his fellow GOP senators to amend it.
McConnell had been trying to balance the need to keep a fragile bipartisan compromise intact against concerns by GOP conservatives that the measure gives Obama too much leeway to make what they consider to be a bad deal with Iran. But he’s now siding with Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker and his allies, who have enough votes with Democratic support to pass the measure.
Corker, R-Tenn., told reporters after a GOP caucus meeting Tuesday that he expects the bill to pass by “an overwhelming vote” as early as Thursday.
Senate Democrats and the two independent senators have united behind the bipartisan compromise, which would give Congress 30 days to review a deal and decide whether to vote on a resolution of disapproval. If one is adopted, the bill allows another 22-day period during which Obama can veto the resolution and Congress could try to override his veto.
During that period, Obama may not waive any sanctions written into U.S. law. But if the disapproval resolution is not adopted over his expected veto, that restriction is lifted, clearing the way for an agreement to be implemented.
But conservative Republicans, pushed by activists on the Right, say the legislation concedes too much to a president they already suspect of abusing his authority. They have introduced dozens of amendments seeking tougher oversight of a potential deal, but most of those would turn Democrats against the final product, causing it to fail to meet the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a filibuster.
Corker said Tuesday he was still holding out hope for agreement on a package of amendments that would address at least some of the GOP members’ concerns, but supporters are prepared to overwhelm opposition and pass the legislation.
