Cruz finally will get Democrats to vote on Russian pipeline sanctions
WASHINGTON — After years of working to block the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is expected to get his vote this week on legislation sanctioning entities that aid Russia in completing and operating the more than 700-mile long project.
With the natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany already complete, there is little anyone can do now to stop Nord Stream 2 from going into operation later this year. But that hasn’t stopped Cruz from forcing Democrats to hold a vote, after President Joe Biden declined to enforce sanctions on the pipeline project last year.
With the White House in the middle of talks with Russia over amassing troops on the Ukrainian border, Cruz is asking Democrats to choose between their anti-russian fervor and President Joe Biden’s desire to maintain good relations with Germany, say which says the project is necessary to maintain European energy supplies. Natural gas shortages in Europe have sent prices skyrocketing there.
“Senate Dems have a choice. Do they: (1) Stand up to Putin, stop Russian aggression, and support Ukraine and “virtually all of Europe and even half the German government” OR (2) Put partisan loyalty to the Biden WH above US national security? It should be a simple choice,” Cruz tweeted Sunday.
The standoff with Democrats follows a deal late last year between Cruz and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in which the Texas senator agreed to stop blocking Democratic nominees from confirmation if his sanctions bill was put to a vote — no later
than Jan. 14.
For the conservative Cruz, the situation presents a political opportunity, not only to prove his own anti-russian bonafides, but also to question the Biden administration’s willingness to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin
“Cruz’s strategy is deliberate,” said Kevin Book, managing director at Clearview Energy Partners, a consulting firm in Washington. “The issue is no longer about stopping the pipeline because the Biden administration has allowed it. The issue for Republicans is to get political leverage on Russia ahead of the midterm elections.”
So far, it’s unclear if Cruz has enough Democratic support to get the 60 votes necessary to pass the legislation, even if all 50 Republicans in the Senate vote yes.
One of his key Democratic allies on Russia is Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who previously co-authored sanctions legislation against Nord Stream 2. But she indicated recently she is opposed to passing the legislation.
“At this point, it’s very important, as we’re looking at potential Russian action in Ukraine, for us to work very closely with our allies, and Germany is one of those very important allies,” she told Politico last week.. “And so, I think the amendment is ill-timed,”
Schumer has not scheduled a specific time for a vote on Cruz’s bill, which in addition to placing sanctions on companies and individuals that work on Nord Stream 2, would give Congress the power to review and potentially override Biden, should he choose not to enforce the sanctions.
Complicating the situation is competing legislation by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., which would place a series of financial sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine.
Democrats, meanwhile, are likely trying to give the Biden administration as much time as possible to work out a deal with Putin, Book said.
“It will be harder for Democrats to oppose (the bill) if Russia talks collapse,” he said. “Cruz might get some of the 10 votes needed to get through the Senate.”