|
Musicmystery -> Senate strips Trump's power to end Russia sanctions (6/15/2017 12:17:51 PM)
|
The first salvo in a new effort by Congress to keep the power of the executive in check? We can only hope.
Yesterday, the Senate voted in an overwhelming margin (97-2) to give Congress the power to block any moves by President Trump and his administration to roll back sanctions against Russia and to strengthen current sanctions in response to Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election and its actions in Syria.
The vote was characterized as a "sharp rebuke" to the president's statements on Russia and his disinterest in investigating assertions made by the intelligence community that the Russians were trying to influence the election that put him in the White House.
The New York Times White House Correspondent Glenn Thrush tweeted: "Easily most undercovered storyline in DC: while Trump thunders and flounders Hill GOP strips his power."
The administration says it will fight the measure, but if the Senate's vote is any indication, it's likely to be veto-proof.
The House has yet to vote on the measure, which was added as an amendment to a popular bill stiffening sanctions against Iran for that country’s recent ballistic missile tests.
ven the president’s staunchest supporters voted in lockstep with his sharpest critics Wednesday to endorse the Russia sanctions measure. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) referred to it applying “a correct amount of pressure” on Russia that will “ensure Congress exerts proper oversight over the use of these powerful sanctions.”
The measure lawmakers voted on Wednesday would give Congress the chance to block any efforts by the Trump administration — or any other president, for that matter — to roll back sanctions without the consent of Congress.
It would also codify existing sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea and involvement in the war in eastern Ukraine.
The measure would then apply new sanctions against Russia for its activities in Syria, where the Kremlin is supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and for its alleged meddling in last year’s U.S. presidential election.
The punitive measures in the legislation are focused on various areas, including the Russian intelligence and defense sectors, parts of its energy sector, and its metals, mining and railways economy. It also includes provisions to better track and combat corruption and illicit financing structures that lead back to Russia.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-overwhelming-votes-to-curtail-trumps-power-to-ease-up-on-russia-sanctions/2017/06/14/8c02d73a-5134-11e7-be25-3a519335381c_story.html?utm_term=.ddd9707c6bf6
|
|
|
|
