8 Republicans support bill to limit Trump’s war powers

WASHINGTON – Eight Senate Republicans broke with President Donald Trump on Thursday – joining all the chamber’s Democrats to support legislation that would restrict the president’s ability to wage war with Iran.

The 55- 45 vote marked a rare bipartisan effort to curb Trump’s powers and underscored lawmakers’ concerns that U. S. tensions with Iran could escalate into a full- fledged war.

Democrats said Congress had to act to rein in an unpredictable president, arguing Trump brought the United States to the brink of war with Iran when he green- lighted a deadly strike targeting Tehran’s most powerful military leader, Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

“I fear that the president’s erratic decision- making, his lack of strategy, his inability to control his impulses may bumble us into a war … even if he doesn’t intend it,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D- N. Y., said during Thursday’s debate.

Most of the Senate’s 53 Republicans voted against the measure, which would direct the president to terminate the use of U. S. military force engaged in “hostilities against Iran” unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., said Thursday that she would bring the Senate measure up for a House vote this month. Even if it passes the House, Trump is almost certain to veto it. There’s little chance that proponents of the measure could get the two- thirds House and Senate supermajority needed to override a veto.

The eight Republicans who voted “yes” on the resolution were: Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Todd Young of Indiana.