Voting 55 to 45, the US Senate passes a resolution seeking to limit the President’s unilateral war powers.

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On Thursday, eight Republicans joined Senate Democrats in passing a resolution on war powers. This resolution would limit the President’s ability to unilaterally carry out military engagements. The recent missile attack that killed General Qasem Soleimani is an example of such an engagement.

The resolution is similar to a non-binding resolution on war powers that passed last month in the House of Representatives. However, that vote fell along much starker partisan lines. Whether or not the House and Senate can agree on legislative language and put a war powers measure on the Oval Office desk, the President would veto it quickly. Neither chamber of Congress is likely to muster the requisite votes to override a presidential veto.

Despite almost no possibility of becoming law, Senators supporting the war powers measure argued this was an important step. Senators sought to both send a message to the Trump administration and lay a groundwork for the reassertion of Congressional authority to declare war.

Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul, specifically, have been the most vocal Republican supporters for limiting the President’s unilateral war powers. Senator Mike Lee specifically sought to distance his vote for the resolution from the idea of rebuking Trump, he did not shy away from taking advantage of the Democrats’ new-found willingness to limit presidential authority for unilateral military engagement due to their resistance to Donald Trump’s presidency.

“What this resolution is about is Congress reclaiming its rightful powers to restore accountability and consensus to this most grave of all policy decisions.” Senator Mike Lee

Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul were joined in their vote on this war powers resolution by Republican Senators Susan Collins, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Todd C. Young, Lamar Alexander, and Bill Cassidy.

Mitt Romney, who made headline news for voting in favor of impeachment, voted against the resolution.

“During this time of heightened tensions with Iran, I believe this resolution would undermine our deterrent capability and send the wrong message to Iran.” Senator Mitt Romney

Romney’s stance reflects that of President Trump, though Trump was more apt to use his characteristically bombastic fashion:

….If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don’t let it happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020

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