How Trump’s Pressure Tactics Sank the Venezuela War Powers Debate |
Ongoing reports and analysis
The U.S. Senate narrowly voted Wednesday night to strip a bipartisan resolution aimed at preventing unauthorized military operations in Venezuela of its privileged status. The action effectively killed the war powers measure and sidestepped (for now) what would likely have been a difficult and embarrassing congressional debate for U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his recent and potential future invasions of the South American country.
The Senate voted 51-50, with Vice President J.D. Vance providing the tiebreaking vote, on a procedural point of order that deemed that the resolution from Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine was not privileged and thus not entitled to the fast-track status that permits the forcing of floor votes. Two of the five Republican senators—Josh Hawley and Todd Young—who last week voted with Democrats to allow debate on the measure switched their votes after coming under intense criticism from Trump.
The U.S. Senate narrowly voted Wednesday night to strip a bipartisan resolution aimed at preventing unauthorized military operations in Venezuela of its privileged status. The action effectively killed the war powers measure and sidestepped (for now) what would likely have been a difficult and embarrassing congressional debate for U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his recent and potential future invasions of the South American country.
The Senate voted 51-50, with Vice President J.D. Vance providing the tiebreaking vote, on a procedural point of order that deemed that the resolution from Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine was not privileged and thus not entitled to the fast-track status that permits the forcing of floor votes. Two of the five Republican senators—Josh Hawley and Todd Young—who last week voted with Democrats to allow debate on the measure switched their........