One of the biggest issues facing Congress today is the obstruction they face from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Nearly 250 bills have passed through the Democratic-controlled House, approved by democratically-elected U.S. representatives, and are stalled because McConnell refuses to put them to a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Senate to vote Thursday on resolutions to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia, says top Democrat on Foreign Relations Committee https://t.co/dd6Lg6Cois
— Bloomberg (@business) June 19, 2019
One bill that is sure to pass the House that McConnell cannot ignore, however, is the resolution to block President Trump from selling arms to the Saudi Arabian government. Enough Republicans in both the House and the Senate are prepared to block those sales that the vote will be held this week and is fully expected to pass through both chambers. Trump’s response is expected to be explosive.
Time reports:
‘Lawmakers have reached a deal with the Senate’s Republican leadership to vote on more than a dozen resolutions aimed at blocking the Trump administration’s sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
‘Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the Senate will hear debate and vote on the resolutions Thursday.’
The Trump Administration made up a fake "emergency" to bypass congressional review of 22 arms sales to Saudi Arabia & the UAE. Congress should pass our amendment with @RepSpanberger @RepCicilline @RepMalinowski to the @AppropsDems Defense bill to stop these sales. Here's why ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/cKWZOJDdMq
— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) June 18, 2019
Trump continued to push the Saudi arms deal even after the death of American resident and Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi, much to the chagrin of his GOP colleagues. That deal would supply arms to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Arab Emerates.
‘The move to block the sale was launched earlier this month by Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
‘Anger has been mounting in Congress over the Trump administration’s close ties to the Saudis, fueled by the high civilian casualties in the Saudi-led war in Yemen and the killing of U.S.-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.’
Senators reach deal to vote on blocking the Trump administration's Saudi arms salehttps://t.co/OO5kN1yDyt
— TIME (@TIME) June 19, 2019
Once the bill passes both chambers of Congress, it will land on Trump’s desk and most likely will be vetoed. It will then head back to Congress, where it would need a two-thirds majority vote to block it permanently. While there hasn’t been a bill that’s received that much bipartisan support in some time, some congressman are projecting that this one actually might have that much GOP support.
On Face the Nation, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said the vote may be bipartisan enough to be veto-proof.
‘I think the votes going to be significant — well over 50 but possibly over 60 and even with a potential of getting a veto-proof.’
The production arrangement is part of an $8.1B arms package for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. The Trump admin. pressed ahead with the sale without congressional approval, declaring an "emergency" based on what it said was a heightened threat from Iran https://t.co/UfJpkeHVV8
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 14, 2019
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
