Many good Democrats are sponsors of the new Iran sanctions bill - can DUers lobby their Senators?

[karynnj]

(It might be good to lobby ALL Senators) I think it would be a good idea for them to either take off their names or get a change to the amendments that they have signed onto to reflect that sanctions should NOT be raised unless the Iranians fail to hold up their part of the agreement. If sanctions are raised, it will scuttle the international agreement and it will be seen as acting in bad faith by the United States.

Note that this amendment was written before the public breakthrough in September. Many of the Senators are DU favorites and the Republicans are the Republicans most likely to be our allies on other things. Signing on was consistent with earlier sanctions bills that the WH asked for - so this was not outrageous when they did it. It will be outrageous and unfortunate if they push for this in December. Think what it could do to Obama having any chance to negotiate anything anywhere in the world.

Consider this Kerry comment that J Street, a liberal Jewish lobby group, had last week on its face book page. ( They are currently leading an effort to lobby against sanctions and in favor of the agreement.)



Here is the list of Senators on the Kirk bill:


Latest Title: Iran Sanctions Loophole Elimination Act of 2013
Sponsor: Sen Kirk, Mark Steven [IL] (introduced 5/8/2013) Cosponsors (31)
Latest Major Action: 5/21/2013 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-42. COSPONSORS(31), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Sen Ayotte, Kelly [NH] - 7/25/2013
Sen Begich, Mark [AK] - 5/14/2013
Sen Boozman, John [AR] - 5/14/2013
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 5/20/2013
Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] - 5/15/2013
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 5/8/2013
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] - 5/21/2013
Sen Cornyn, John [TX] - 5/8/2013
Sen Cruz, Ted [TX] - 5/9/2013
Sen Fischer, Deb [NE] - 5/20/2013
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 5/16/2013
Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] - 6/26/2013
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 6/6/2013
Sen Heller, Dean [NV] - 5/9/2013
Sen Hoeven, John [ND] - 7/8/2013
Sen Johanns, Mike [NE] - 5/14/2013
Sen Manchin, Joe, III [WV] - 5/8/2013
Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] - 6/6/2013
Sen Moran, Jerry [KS] - 6/6/2013
Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] - 5/20/2013
Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 5/8/2013
Sen Portman, Rob [OH] - 6/6/2013
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 5/9/2013
Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] - 5/14/2013
Sen Schatz, Brian [HI] - 6/27/2013
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 5/21/2013
Sen Sessions, Jeff [AL] - 6/27/2013
Sen Toomey, Pat [PA] - 6/25/2013
Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] - 5/20/2013
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 5/14/2013
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 7/17/2013

There is another Senate amendment that Inhofe is the lead sponsor on. I doubt that we - as liberals - can impact them.

Latest Title: Iran Sanctions Implementation Act of 2013
Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] (introduced 5/15/2013) Cosponsors (13)
Latest Major Action: 5/15/2013 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. COSPONSORS(13), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Sen Boozman, John [AR] - 5/15/2013
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 5/15/2013
Sen Coats, Daniel [IN] - 5/15/2013
Sen Cornyn, John [TX] - 5/15/2013
Sen Cruz, Ted [TX] - 5/22/2013
Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] - 6/12/2013
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 5/15/2013
Sen Hoeven, John [ND] - 5/15/2013
Sen Lee, Mike [UT] - 5/15/2013
Sen McConnell, Mitch [KY] - 5/15/2013
Sen Risch, James E. [ID] - 5/15/2013
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 6/3/2013
Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS] - 5/15/2013

We all know that every Senator will be lobbied by AIPAC and other groups allied with keeping the neo con dreams alive. In the Burlington paper, even Senator Leahy, who was cautiously positive on the agreement said he was looking to learn more before deciding to support it. Obviously, people calling or emailing their offices will simply make them see that there are at least as many Americans who want the agreement to have a chance.

As John Lennon said - "Give Peace a Chance"

[karynnj]

1. Here is the J Street statement on the agreement:

http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-sees-iran-agreement-as-positive-first-step_1

[Laelth]

4. Thanks for that post. Quite informative. n/t

-Laelth

[karynnj]

2. Kick because this is something WE can fight for

I remember endless threads that blasted Obama (and Kerry) for speaking of a tactical nuclear strike. For all who claimed that progressives -some led by Alan Grayson stopped that, here is a chance to show that we want to give diplomacy a chance.

(The House already passed a bill with more sanction on July 30th - before the UN session and before there were public talks with Iran. That bill would be sent to conference with the Senate one if one were to pass. Therefore, it may be up to the Senate.)

[ProSense]

3. Good grief.

What's the matter with them?

[karynnj]

5. There may be nothing wrong with them - but we will see

These bills were written before the UN session where the goal of diplomacy was publicly stated happened. Even then the WH, including Kerry and Biden, were asking them to hold off. I just hope that the majory can be pushed to at least give a 6 month window to give peace a chance.

Edited to say that Menendez is now speaking of a 6 month window before any new sanctions -

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that sanctions legislation would provide for a six-month window while Iran and the U.S. attempt to iron out a final agreement.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/john-kerry-defends-historic-iran-deal-sunday-media-blitz-blast-pact-article-1.1527361#ixzz2lgKJu0BP

This is good news because I think any amendment on this goes to the SFRC. (I edited out that I have been disappointed with him as chair.)

[okaawhatever]

6. K & R