Citing Need For More Information, Markey Votes ‘Present’ On Syria Resolution To Authorize Force

[ProSense]

Citing Need For More Information, Markey Votes ‘Present’ On Syria Resolution To Authorize Force

Newly-elected Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) raised a lot of eyebrows Wednesday afternoon when he voted "present" on a resolution to authorize military strikes in Syria, a position advocated by his predecessor Secretary of State John Kerry, who testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the very same day.

“A `no’ vote would have indicated I had sufficient information on which to base the decision. Which I did not," Markey explained after the vote, as quoted by the Boston Globe.

“I want to make sure I make an informed, correct vote,” he added. “The people of Massachusetts expect their senators to have analyzed all the facts, and I want to make sure I have all the facts before I cast that vote.”

The committee ultimately passed a revised authorization for military action in Syria, including new language effectively making regime change the goal of the intervention, by a margin of 10 - 7, with Markey voting present.

- more -

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/markey-voted-present-on-syria-resolution-due-to

[warrant46]

1. effectively making regime change the goal of the intervention,

Aah that should be interesting

[Supersedeas]

2. no new evidence but plenty of new language