New England pols move to block Trump from attacking Iran without permission from Congress
With Israel and Iran seemingly tumbling toward war, Democratic politicians on Capitol Hill, including several from New England, are trying to keep President Donald Trump from dragging the United States into the conflict.
On Tuesday, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both Massachusetts Democrats, joined with several colleagues to back legislation that would keep the Republican White House from spending taxpayer money on military force against Iran without congressional approval.
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The legislation contains an exception for self-defense as enshrined in the War Powers Act and applicable U.S. law, the lawmakers said in a joint statement.
'The Constitution is clear: Congress decides when our country goes to war, not the president or the Netanyahu government,' Warren said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'The Trump administration must prioritize de-escalation to prevent this spiraling into a war that jeopardizes U.S. troops and destabilizes the Middle East.'
In that same statement, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., argued that 'Netanyahu's reckless and illegal attacks violate international law and risk igniting a regional war. Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu's war of choice.'
On Monday, Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate the middle of Iran's capital as Israel's air campaign on Tehran appeared to broaden on the fourth day of an intensifying conflict.
An Iranian television anchor fled her studio during a live broadcast as bombs fell on the headquarters of the country's state-run TV station.
Trump posted an ominous message on his social media site later Monday, calling for the immediate evacuation of Tehran.
'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,' Trump wrote, adding that 'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!'
On Tuesday, Markey said lawmakers on Capitol Hill needed to reassert their traditional war-making authority so that 'we are not drawn into a catastrophic regional war that would further imperil the safety of American citizens and forces, the stability of the Middle East, and the lives of innocent civilians.'
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., also joined the legislative push, as did Democratic U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, and Peter Welch of Vermont.
'Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund another reckless, open-ended conflict instigated by Prime Minister Netanyahu,' Welch said.
'War has badly damaged this region. Millions of civilians face acute hunger and need lifesaving aid in Gaza right now. Netanyahu just upended U.S.-led negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear program in favor of recklessly escalating tensions,' the Vermont Democrat continued. 'Congress needs to listen to the American people, as our founders intended, before getting involved.'
The action on the Senate's side of Capitol Hill also came as U.S. Reps. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, introduced a war powers resolution that would forbid U.S. involvement without congressional authorization.
'This is not our war,' Massie wrote on X. 'Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.'
MassLive Reporter Adam Bass contributed to this story.
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