Senate could take up Iran amendments Tuesday

Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) are hoping to move forward Tuesday with amendments to legislation that would allow lawmakers to weigh in on an Iranian nuclear deal.

“We hope we can find a way to move the bill forward tomorrow with consideration of amendments,” Cardin said. “We’re not encouraging amendments, because we think that we took these issues up in the committee and we’ve worked out a bipartisan bill to get this done.”

{mosads}But Cardin encouraged senators to talk with him and Corker if they have an amendment, in an attempt to work out an “orderly way” for them to be considered.

“I just want all members to know we’re open for business,” he said.

More than a dozen Republican senators have offered or signed onto amendments to the Corker-Cardin agreement, which would give lawmakers 30 days to pass a resolution of disapproval on any final Iran deal.

Conservative Republicans worry the legislation doesn’t go far enough, and want votes on a handful of politically sticky issues including tying the deal to Iran recognizing Israel and the release of Americans currently being held by Iran.

If those amendments are taken up, Democrats will have to choose between opening themselves up for political attacks by voting against the amendments, or angering the White House by supporting them.

Cardin added that if senators are able to start work on amendments Tuesday, he hopes they will be able to finish work on the bill “shortly thereafter.”