Fifty US senators line up behind new Iran sanctions bill

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Jerusalem Post

Support among Senate members for new Iran sanctions bill has doubled since the measure was introduced last month; Obama administration stands by veto threat saying action is not necessary.

Support among Senate members for a new sanctions bill against Iran has doubled since the measure was introduced last month.

50 senators across party lines now co-sponsor the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act of 2013, according to multiple Senate aides, who expect support to increase in the coming days. That amounts to half of all Senate members, just one shy of the number required for a bill to pass.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez introduced the bill just before Christmas with 25 co-sponsors. The move was an affront to the Obama administration, which fears the bill could derail fragile nuclear talks among Iran, the US and world powers.

If enacted, the bill would provide the president with a window of up to a year to negotiate a final settlement with Iran over its controversial nuclear program. Iran would also have to comply with an interim agreement forged between its government and the P5+1 powers— the US, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany— that effectively halts uranium enrichment and construction on its Arak plutonium reactor in exchange for modest sanctions relief.



Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Fifty-senators-line-up-behind-new-Iran-sanctions-bill-337397

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Debbie Wasserman Schultz Blocking Bipartisan Iran Sanctions

Tim Johnson won’t consider Iran bill during talks

Let's blow all Iran nuclear sites up: US lawmaker (Rep. Louie Gohmert)

[underpants]

1. Those sanctions will lead to war

Horribly bad idea

[Ash_F]

2. Booo !

What is Steny Hoyer's damage?

[geardaddy]

3. Do we have a list of the offending dems?

I want to know if I need to call my senators.

[truthisfreedom]

7. I can't find one yet, but it must exist.

[karynnj]

10. I think this is the bill, but it does not have all 50 listed in Thomas - it does have 48

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2014, 08:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Note the article SPECULATES that it will add that many Senators. This COULD be the JP trying to suggest it is a done deal. Also remember that it takes 60 votes if the nos filibuster and this is important enough that they might. What it does suggest is that EVERYONE call their representatives. There were 10 Chairs of Senate committees who signed a letter against this - including Johnson the chair of the Banking committee to which this would usually be referred.

(In VT, Leahy signed the letter and Sanders is against the sanctions. My old home, NJ, is the opposite. )


(corrected)

S.1881
Latest Title: Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013
Sponsor: Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] (introduced 12/19/2013) Cosponsors (47)
Latest Major Action: 12/20/2013 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 288.
Jump to: Summary, Major Actions, All Actions, Titles, Cosponsors, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments
SUMMARY:

***NONE***
MAJOR ACTIONS:

***NONE***
ALL ACTIONS:

12/20/2013:
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
12/20/2013:
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 288.

TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)

SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:
Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013

OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
A bill to expand sanctions imposed with respect to Iran and to impose additional sanctions with respect to Iran, and for other purposes.

COSPONSORS(47), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] - 1/6/2014
Sen Ayotte, Kelly [NH] - 12/19/2013
Sen Begich, Mark [AK] - 12/19/2013
Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] - 12/19/2013
Sen Blunt, Roy [MO] - 12/19/2013
Sen Booker, Cory A. [NJ] - 12/19/2013
Sen Boozman, John [AR] - 12/20/2013
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 12/19/2013
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 12/19/2013
Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] - 1/6/2014
Sen Coats, Daniel [IN] - 12/20/2013
Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] - 1/6/2014
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 12/19/2013
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] - 12/19/2013
Sen Corker, Bob [TN] - 12/19/2013
Sen Cornyn, John [TX] - 12/19/2013
Sen Cruz, Ted [TX] - 12/19/2013
Sen Donnelly, Joe [IN] - 12/19/2013
Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] - 1/6/2014
Sen Fischer, Deb [NE] - 1/6/2014
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 12/19/2013
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] - 12/19/2013
Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] - 1/6/2014
Sen Hagan, Kay [NC] - 12/19/2013
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 1/6/2014
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] - 1/6/2014
Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA] - 12/20/2013
Sen Johanns, Mike [NE] - 12/19/2013
Sen Kirk, Mark Steven [IL] - 12/19/2013
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] - 12/19/2013
Sen Lee, Mike [UT] - 1/6/2014
Sen Manchin, Joe, III [WV] - 12/20/2013
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 12/19/2013
Sen Moran, Jerry [KS] - 12/19/2013
Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] - 12/20/2013
Sen Portman, Rob [OH] - 1/6/2014
Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] - 12/19/2013
Sen Risch, James E. [ID] - 12/20/2013
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 12/19/2013
Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] - 12/19/2013
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 12/19/2013
Sen Scott, Tim [SC] - 1/6/2014
Sen Thune, John [SD] - 1/6/2014
Sen Toomey, Pat [PA] - 1/6/2014
Sen Vitter, David [LA] - 12/20/2013
Sen Warner, Mark R. [VA] - 12/19/2013
Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS] - 1/6/2014
COMMITTEE(S):

***NONE***

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***
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[warrant46]

11. Chuck Scummer (D) (Fill in a venue)

[GeorgeGist]

4. JPost woo.

[another_liberal]

5. Veto it, Mr. President.

You are totally right on this one, they are very wrong.

Half of the Senate does not equal a President of the United States.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. S.h.i.t.

No wonder we invaded Iraq. The level of rank stupidity in the senate, when it comes to Israel, is painful.

[FairWinds]

8. How Many U.S. Senators . .

will sponsor legislation to suspend aid to Israel until
that country signs and adheres to the
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty?

[jaysunb]

9. Horseshit !

Name some names then get back to me.

[karynnj]

12. This really demonstrates the power of the Israel lobby

Here is a link to J Street's attempt to counteract AIPAC. This page explains the agreement and their is a petition if you click on "Take action".

I am impressed that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is standing up to them.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Here's the nonresponsive form letter I got back from Mark Begich

when I wrote to him expressing my displeasure with his position on this :

Thank you for contacting me about the ongoing nuclear disarmament negotiations with Iran.

As you know, on November 24, 2013, Iran and the United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and Britain came to an interim agreement, known as the Joint Plan of Action, for Iran to discontinue development of nuclear weapons. The agreement involves several steps, including a reduction in enriched uranium stocks and heightened monitoring and inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency. In return, there would be no further efforts to reduce Iran's crude oil sales, and several EU and U.S. sanctions on exports would be suspended.

While I appreciate these steps toward a diplomatic solution, I do not support easing sanctions until the Iranian government proves it can be trusted to carry out an agreement to stop developing nuclear weapons. An Iran with nuclear weapons is far too great a threat to the region, especially to our ally Israel.

We have seen repeated failed attempts to negotiate with Iran, and I believe sanctions are the best tool to prevent Iran from threatening our national security. That is why I signed on as a co-sponsor to the bipartisan Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act of 2013, authored by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This bill would provide the negotiating parties 6 months to achieve a final agreement, with no additional sanctions during those talks. This bill would establish new sanctions if a final agreement is not reached that would make it impossible for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Sanctions would target human rights violators, foreign financial institutions that facilitate transactions with Iranian banks, countries that fail to reduce oil imports from Iran, and large sectors of the Iranian economy, such as mining and shipbuilding.

I will continue to monitor these ongoing negotiations and keep your thoughts in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. Please feel free to contact me again in the future.

[geek tragedy]

14. Sad to see so many Dems siding with Louie Gohmert over Obama

just to pander to certain crowds.

Anyone sponsoring this should be removed from consideration as a possible Presidenital candidate (that means you, Kirsten Gillibrand).

[adavid]

15. Sam Sedor says...

the same thing. The reason that so many on both side are falling all over themselves against Iran, is because of AIPAC.

[cosmicone]

16. Israel's and/or AIPAC's pawns. n/t

[madrchsod]

17. the saudis, israelis,and republicans agree...

make sure the president doesn't negotiate with the iranians.

it`s the old my enemy is your enemy...