(Bloomberg) -- Eight Republicans joined with Democrats in the Senate Wednesday to move forward with a vote on a resolution aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to take military action against Iran without congressional approval.
The resolution, introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, would bar U.S. troops from engaging in hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military, unless Congress declared war or specifically authorized the use of military force. The measure is expected to get a final vote Thursday.
Kaine introduced his measure in early January shortly after a U.S. strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport. Soleimani oversaw Iranian proxy forces operating in the region. His death was cheered by both parties in Congress but some Democrats raised concerns over the legal justification for the strike.
Two Republicans -- Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee -- joined that criticism after a Jan. 8 briefing in which Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested they didn’t have to come to Congress before carrying out a military strike. Lee called the briefing “insulting” and said it was “probably the worst” he’d ever received on a military issue.
After initially opposing Kaine’s resolution, Lee signed on as co-sponsor, as did Paul. Senators Todd Young and Susan Collins followed in short order.
In addition to those four Republicans, Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander, Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy, Kansas’s Jerry Moran and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski supported the procedural vote.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opposes the resolution but can’t block a vote. Trump urged the Senate to defeat Kaine’s resolution.
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