Senator Says Iran Sanctions Bill Won’t Get A Vote ‘Any Time Soon’
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) said Tuesday that momentum in the Senate on imposing new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program has subsided and that those pushing the bill are considering alternative avenues to pressure the White House in its upcoming negotiations with Tehran.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that the effort in the Senate to place new sanctions on Iran — a move opposed by numerous experts, the Obama administration and some high-ranking Members of Congress — “has stalled,” and that “lawmakers are discussing whether to introduce a much weaker measure.”
“I would say based on the story this morning, based on comments I’m getting on the floor, the momentum has slowed in terms of bringing it forward,” King said at an event sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations. “So if I had to bet right now I would think that it probably won’t come to the floor any time soon.”
King said that statements from the likes of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, and various experts against the Iran sanctions bill has contributed to its current downward trajectory. “A lot of people have been saying, ‘Wait a minute, slow down, what would be the effect here?’” King added. “Because at the beginning it was you know, let’s go and 59 co-sponsors in a matter of weeks and then it kind of stopped.”
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2014/01/28/3214001/angus-king-iran-sanctions/
Team Peace seems to have won round one.