Scoop: NJ, NY reps to oppose Iran war powers resolution in House
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Rep Josh Gottheimer. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) will oppose a War Powers Act resolution designed to restrain President Trump on Iran, the two lawmakers tell Axios.
Why it matters: Their opposition to a resolution from Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), expected to reach the House floor next week, will make it harder to pass.
- Gottheimer's opposition underscores that Democrats are unlikely to present a united front against any potential Trump action on Iran, unlike during the vote rebuking his Venezuela move.
- Massie is already pessimistic that he'll convince other Republicans to join him, Axios reported Thursday.
What they are saying: "We oppose the Massie-Khanna War Powers Resolution to prohibit the use of force against Iran," the two lawmakers said in a statement first obtained by Axios.
- "We respect and defend Congress's constitutional role in matters of war. Oversight and debate are absolutely vital," they said.
- "However, this resolution would restrict the flexibility needed to respond to real and evolving threats and risks signaling weakness at a dangerous moment."
Zoom out: Trump is keeping the world guessing on whether he'll order military strikes against Iran, and he's raised the prospect of a deal on Iran's nuclear program.
- "You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days," he said Thursday.
- It's also unclear if he plans to use an initial — and limited — round of strikes to force Iran to the negotiating table or if he will engage in a longer military campaign, potentially lasting for weeks.
- "I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks," one Trump adviser told Axios.
Between the lines: Even before the broadside from Gottheimer and Lawler, the prospects for the Khanna-Massie resolution passing were not good.
- In the Senate, it's unclear if Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will force a vote on their own version of the resolution before Trump potentially takes any military action.
Zoom in: Both Gottheimer and Lawler supported the joint U.S. and Israel strikes against Iran's nuclear program in June and have since both voiced support for protesters — and appeared together on CNN to make their position clear.
- Friday's statement is the latest iteration of their hawkish approach to the current regime in Iran.
- "So long as 'Death to America' remains the rallying cry of the Iranian regime, Iran will remain a persistent and serious threat to our men and women in uniform, our allies, and global stability," Gottheimer and Lawler said.
- "We know that Tehran is still pursuing a nuclear weapon and, since the June conflict, has moved aggressively to rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities — a direct threat to our brave service members and key democratic allies."
