GOP infighting may keep Iran nuclear deal from getting a vote in Congress

While Democrats in Congress finish sorting out whether or not they support the nuclear deal the Obama administration negotiated with Iran and five world powers, the fight among Republicans is over how much they hate the accord. With the bill to disapprove the Iran deal dead in the water, thanks to ample Democratic support to at least sustain President Obama's veto, Republicans in the House are split over the wisdom of trying for a legislative end run. Congress has until Sept. 17 to formally disapprove of the measure.

Senate Republicans plan to forge ahead toward a vote of disapproval, but conservatives in the House delayed debate on that measure, leading to an emergency Plan B hatched by House GOP leaders Wednesday night. The plan involves three votes: One to prevent Obama from lifting sanctions on Iran, a second to show that a bill approving the deal would fail, and a third to argue that the 60-day clock to vote on the bill hadn't started yet because, conservatives say, Obama did not present Congress with all the details of the Iran deal, specifically two side deals negotiated between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The House measures won't stop the Iran deal from going into effect, but House conservatives say it will lay the groundwork for a possible lawsuit against the Obama administration. "He hasn't complied with the law," Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) said of Obama. Democrats rolled their eyes. "Everywhere Republican leaders look this fall, there's potential disaster lurking thanks to their hard-right members determined to hold the government hostage unless they get everything they want," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), one of the Democrats who is voting with Republicans against the Iran deal.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up