Trump faces growing risk of losing key Iran war vote in Congress

House Democrats express confidence that a war powers resolution will pass on Thursday. Jim Himes says he feels “pretty good” about passage, and another senior Democrat says party leadership is confident. Jared Golden, who has opposed prior Iran war powers resolutions, intends to vote yes, noting more than 60 days have passed since the conflict began and that the War Powers Act requires termination if Congress has not declared war. Golden says the measure is “clean” compared with last week’s version. Don Bacon says Trump needs more authorities to use force but is “very split,” calling the vote difficult due to constitutional Article One authorities and the president’s preference to avoid Congress. Last week’s similar effort ended in a 212-212 tie, with Golden voting against and several members absent.

"House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.), one of the lawmakers leading the measure, told Axios he is "feeling pretty good" about its chances of passing on Thursday. Another senior House Democrat, asked if party leadership is confident about the vote, told Axios: "Yes.""

"Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), the one Democrat who has consistently voted against Iran war powers resolutions, told Axios his "intention is to vote yes on it" on Thursday. Golden noted that it is "past 60 days" since the conflict was initiated, which, under the War Powers Act, is the timetable by which a president must terminate military operations if Congress does not declare war. "The administration could come to Congress and try to push for authorization," he said, adding that this measure is "clean" unlike the one that was voted on last week."

"Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a pro-interventionist centrist who has voted against past Iran war powers resolutions, told Axios that Trump "needs more authorities to use force" but feels "very split" on the upcoming vote. "It's a tough vote, because we have the constitution and Article One authorities. The President doesn't like it. Granted, he would prefer not to have Congress," he said. Bacon, who is retiring this year, has repeatedly criticized the president over what he has said are abuses of power."

"Democrats' attempt to pass a war powers resolution last week failed in a stunning tie vote, 212 to 212. Golden voted against the resolution, while Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) voted for it. Half a dozen members were absent on that vote, including Reps. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), both of whom have missed weeks of votes. Between the lines: "Like everything else around here it's about the absences," Himes told Axios."

Read at Axios