Democrats block energy spending bill over Iran amendment

Senate Democrats on Wednesday refused to end debate on an energy and water spending bill because of a proposed Republican amendment that would prevent the Obama administration from purchasing heavy water from Iran.

Members were warned Wednesday that the move would imperil the appropriations process just as it was getting off the ground. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who vowed to hold another vote on the bill, said the dispute is “yet a new way to blow up the appropriations process” and “a ridiculous place for the Senate to be.”

{mosads}The 50-46 vote fell short of the 60 needed to end debate on the funding package, the first of the appropriations bills to hit the Senate floor. Four Democrats — Sens. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Heidi Hetikamp (N.D.) Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Robert Menendez (N.J.) — voted for the bill, and five Republicans — Sens. Deb Fischer (Neb.), Dean Heller (Nev.), Ben Sasse (Neb.), Mike Lee (Utah) and McConnell, for procedural reasons — voted against it.

Democrats objected to an amendment from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) designed to prevent the government from purchasing Iran’s heavy water, which can be used in nuclear reactors, a stipulation allowed under the nuclear agreement reached with the country last year. 

The amendment isn’t scheduled to receive a vote, but Democrats warned that even the potential for its inclusion could hurt the bill’s chances with President Obama. 

“Sen. Cotton’s amendment is the definition of a poison pill and will trigger a presidential veto,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said in a statement. “For the appropriations process to continue productively, Sen. McConnell needs to find a way to stop being blindsided by his fellow Republicans.” 

Reid said Cotton was trying to “sidetrack” the Senate from work on the appropriations bill. He said Democrats are willing to keep negotiating with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the energy appropriations subcommittee, to try to find a way to break the logjam over the bill.

Cotton, in a floor speech of his own, said he was willing to work with Democrats on the amendment and clear the way for the spending bill to move forward, including watering down the amendment or allowing a 60-vote threshold for its passage. 

“I want to pass this bill,” he said. “I want to move on to the next appropriations bill, and I’m committed to continue to working in good faith.” 

Wednesday’s vote blocks the path forward for the $37.5 billion energy and water spending bill, which increases funding for Department of Energy and Army Corps of Engineers programs. 

The Senate bill didn’t contain many of the policy riders House members packed into their version. The White House had threatened to veto the Senate legislation due to research funding levels, but members had hoped they could advance what was otherwise an uncontroversial package in order to kick-start the 2017 appropriations process.

Members on both sides of the aisle warned Wednesday’s actions — Cotton’s amendment or the Democrat’s filibuster — now put that process at risk. 

“I think it would be a real shame if we came up with one more reason not to have an appropriations bill,” Alexander said.

“I want us to continue to work together. I truly believe it is more in the interest of our country to work in regular order,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the energy appropriations committee, said.

“Why does [the amendment] need to be on an appropriations bill?” she added. “Why can’t we have the ability to do one bill in this house that doesn’t have a poison pill on it, to set an example for future bills?” 

— Jordain Carney contributed