Republican presidential candidate and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is
pushing hard for votes on amendments to a carefully crafted bill that would allow Congress to review any nuclear deal with Iran — including a politically charged rider forcing Tehran to recognize Israel.
"If you don't want to vote on things, don't run for office," Rubio said in challenging his fellow senators, the
Weekly Standard reports.
But Politico reports that the Israel amendment gives Democrats a dilemma: they want to look strong on defending Israel and yet loyal to President Barack Obama, who could threaten to veto the measure if it's significantly amended.
Rubio has seven amendments he's aiming to pass, and the Israel recognition issue isn't the only difficult one,
Politico notes: one demands the release of Americans held in Iran, another requires Obama to submit any United Nations proposals to Congress, and still another aims to keep economic sanctions on Iran.
"I want a vote on all of my amendments," Rubio said.
But Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, slammed the Israel amendment as a "poison pill" that would defeat the White House-supported bill.
The most important thing is to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, Cardin said, the Weekly Standard reports, but "the Rubio amendment, although it's not intended to do that, would say, 'No, that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is to negotiate the language about what Iran says about Israel, not their nuclear weapons program.'"
"If you disagree with me, stand up and say you disagree and you vote no," Rubio countered,
The Hill reports.
"If you agree with the amendment but you're going to vote against it because you think it unravels this agreement put in place, say that."
GOP leaders may be siding with Rubio, Politico reports – and haven't yet tried to summon votes against the amendments.
"We ought to have as many votes on as many amendments as we can," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas. "There’s a lot of interest in this topic, as there should be. This is very serious business, and other senators want to offer their ideas."
Politico reports that Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., is confident he can stop the most damaging amendments.
"I don’t want to predict. I mean, look, I take it a day at time," Corker said. "I hope we’re going to end up with a bill that will become law, and that’s the goal."
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s opposition to any amendments to the Iran review bill may help Corker meet that goal, Politico reports.
"The outside groups are validating what I’m saying: that this would be counterproductive to Israel," Cardin said. "Sen. Rubio, I know, wants this bill to hit the finish line. So, I hope he would work with us."
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