Democrats on the brink of war powers breakthrough

Democratic lawmakers are on the verge of passing a resolution to end President Trump’s war with Iran — with some help from a steadily growing group of Republicans. 

In the House and Senate, resolutions under the 1973 War Powers Act this past week saw more members of Trump’s party crossing the aisle to vote in favor of the so-far failed measures, with others voicing their support for a future resolution. 

Up until now, House and Senate Republicans have defeated multiple war powers votes brought by their Democratic colleagues since the start of the U.S. campaign in Iran on Feb. 28. But some in the GOP who were initially hesitant to rein in Trump have soured on his administration’s lack of clear plan for the conflict and skyrocketing fuel costs for their constituents — a byproduct of Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

In the House on Thursday, GOP lawmakers narrowly voted down a resolution directing Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran. A tie vote of 212-212 meant the measure failed under chamber rules.

Three Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Tom Barrett (Mich.) — crossed the aisle to support the measure. One Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), opposed it.

But Golden, a former Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has indicated he’ll support the next war powers resolution. He said he only opposed the last measure because it had a withdrawal deadline that had already passed. 

“I look forward to voting for a clean, relevant resolution as soon as possible,” Golden said in a statement Wednesday. 

And Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) could........

© The Hill