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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsONLY TWO Senators voted against new Russia sanctions: Rand Paul and Mike Lee.
Senate votes to impose new sanctions on Russia and Iran
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/15/russia-iran-sanctions-senate-vote-239594
The Senate on Thursday voted 98-2 for new sanctions on Iran and Russia, including new powers for Congress to block President Donald Trump from rolling back any penalties against Vladimir Putin's government.
The bipartisan support for the year's most significant GOP-backed limitation on Trump comes as the White House remains silent on the plan to sanction Moscow, even as President Putin pushes back at U.S. intelligence officials' conclusion that Russian actors conducted cyberattacks to disrupt the 2016 presidential election. Trump has repeatedly dismissed Russian electoral meddling, raising questions about whether the White House might reject the Senate's sanctions deal.
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) hailed the lopsided vote in favor of the Iran sanctions bill that he helped shepherd to passage with the Russia measure attached, but he stopped short of echoing previous predictions that Trump would sign the combined sanctions legislation once it clears the House.
The only two votes against the Russia-Iran sanctions deal came from GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah.
MineralMan
(146,324 posts)Nobody seems to have an answer, and apparently nobody seems to care about an answer.
It's very puzzling to me. Why would Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders be voting against an almost unanimous, bipartisan collective vote? I'm at a loss.
hedda_foil
(16,375 posts)The underlying bill which only covered Iranian sanctions was previously voted on and Sanders and Paul were the holdouts. This new vote, to impose harsher Russian sanctions, Paul and Lee voted no.l, while Sanders voted yes. Whoever looked up the roll call looked at the original bill that was previously passed instead of yesterday's vote. One or more journalists or their intern screwed up.
MineralMan
(146,324 posts)The Paul/Sanders vote was on the bill, and was taken today.
That's what the news story says.
MineralMan
(146,324 posts)on the complete bill, following yesterday's vote on the amendment. The bill passed 98-2, with Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders voting No, just as I said. Here's the official record of the vote, from the Senate web site:
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00147
hedda_foil
(16,375 posts)I suppose his reasoning might be that he was against the tougher Iran sanctions so he voted against the amended bill,but even if that's so, I have a great deal of trouble with this vote.
MineralMan
(146,324 posts)on two days. However, since Bernie stands alone (well, with Rand Paul, who doesn't count) on this, I have to fault his logic. Every Democrat voted for the overall bill.
So did every Republican. It's very odd that only Rand Paul and Bernie voted against a 98 vote majority on this one.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Boy, did the media mess this up. Almost no mention of Sanders' surprise vote.
George II
(67,782 posts)....tougher sanctions against Iran?
Andrew KY
(2 posts)[link:http://sanders-statement-on-iran-and-russia-sanctions|
My first post!
JTFrog
(14,274 posts)Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)So it's a matter of whether you want to believe CNN or the Senate's own Website.
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00144
Paul and Lee were the Nay votes.
emulatorloo
(44,170 posts)Your link is to the June 14th vote on an amendment to the bill.
That's why there is some confusion I think.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)My link: Question: On the Amendment (Crapo Amdt. No. 232 As Modified )
Statement of Purpose: To impose sanctions with respect to the Russian Federation and to combat terrorism and illicit financing.
Sanders: YEA
Your link: Question: On Passage of the Bill (S. 722 As Amended )
Measure Title: An Act to Provide Congressional Review and to Counter Iranian and Russian Governments' Aggression.
Sanders: NAY
emulatorloo
(44,170 posts)The CNN article cited is about the vote on the bill.
unc70
(6,117 posts)Not sure why there is confusion. Those opposed were Paul and Lee. Not Sanders.
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00144
MineralMan
(146,324 posts)That was yesterday. Today, the entire bill was passed, with Paul and Sanders voting no. If you look at your link, it is clear that is the amendment that was voted on, not the final bill.
Here is the vote in question, taken today:
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00147
Paul and Sanders voted NO.
emulatorloo
(44,170 posts)emulatorloo
(44,170 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)....is it so difficult for some to accept that?
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)mcar
(42,368 posts)leftstreet
(36,111 posts)Madam45for2923
(7,178 posts)mcar
(42,368 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)....his reasons to vote for the crime bill in the 1990s and votes against the Brady bill.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)SaschaHM
(2,897 posts)I'm sure the media will just overlook this too.
emulatorloo
(44,170 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Andrew KY
(2 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)from the Salt Lake City Tribune, which also missed Sanders' actual vote and obviously assumed their senator, Mike Lee, had held to his announced position.
"The Russian sanctions amendment included funding for programs and support of policies that I believe are not effective at addressing problems in the U.S.-Russia relationship and have promoted progressive policies unrelated to countering Russia at the expense of American taxpayers." Lee specifically opposed a section of the amendment that appropriates $250 million to coordinate aid and counter cyberattacks in a handful of countries "vulnerable to influence."
The other senator voting no, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, told The Washington Examiner that he doesn't favor any new measures against Iran or Russia. The sanctions that passed Wednesday, he added, are inadequate, like "tweaking their nose."
Response to Miles Archer (Original post)
MagickMuffin This message was self-deleted by its author.