Cotton, Boozman Continue Fight On Iran Deal Despite Vote Count

Senate Democrats successfully secured enough votes to prevent a resolution disapproving of the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement from advancing and all but shored up enough votes to sustain a veto should it ever reach the President’s desk.

54 Republicans and four Democrats voted in favor of the disapproval resolution, while 42 Democrats voted against. The measure needed 60 votes to move forward.

The four Democrats who voted with Republicans were Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Ben Cardin of Maryland.

“There’s bipartisan opposition to this deal. Only Democratic support,” McConnell fumed at Democrats, according to Politico. “You own it!”

ARKANSAS’ SENATORS
Arkansas Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton both took to the floor to argue against the Iran deal. You can watch their video remarks here and here.

Boozman said after today’s vote that a nuclear Iran would be “devastating” for America and its allies.

“This is about saving our children and grandchildren from the prospects of nuclear war. I cannot confidently say this agreement will accomplish this goal. In fact, I fear it moves us in the wrong direction. That’s why I oppose the deal,” he said.

Cotton also voiced his frustration with the Senate’s failure to advance a resolution of disapproval on the Iran nuclear deal.

“I am deeply disappointed by Senate Democrats’ decision to block a vote on the Iran nuclear deal. I proposed an amendment to Corker-Cardin that would have guaranteed a vote, but it was rejected by Democrats because their goal all along was to deny Congress any vote or say on this deal. That’s one reason why I ultimately voted against Corker-Cardin,” Cotton said.

“Political fealty to President Obama’s hoped-for legacy in foreign affairs means this dangerous deal will likely move forward, despite the overwhelming and bipartisan opposition to it in Congress and the clear will of the American people,” he added. “History will remember this stunning display of partisan loyalty and willful blindness. And it will remember this Senate as the one that — when given the chance to stop the world’s worst sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the world’s worst weapons — blinked when confronted with that evil.”

The voting drama now moves to the House on Friday. There could be as many as three votes on the Iran deal.

One vote would rebuke Obama for not disclosing the totality of the agreement to Congress; a second would try to prevent him from lifting sanctions on Iran; and the third vote would be on a resolution of approval on the pact, designed to highlight majority opposition to the nuclear agreement.