Corker predicts Senate vote on Iran soon

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) predicted the Senate will vote next week on legislation to allow Congress to review a nuclear deal with Iran.

“It will be sometime next week,” Corker told The Hill.

Work on the bill has been slowed by the dozens of amendments that have been filed to the legislation — several of which are “poison pills” that if approved could cause support for the underlying measure to collapse.

{mosads}As of Tuesday evening, approximately 60 GOP amendments had been filed to the legislation, which would give lawmakers 30 days to pass a resolution of disapproval on a deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who helped craft the Iran bill with Corker, said on the Senate floor that the two senators spent part of Wednesday “going over some of the issues concerning how we’re going to move forward.”

“We’re working very hard to try to resolve some of the amendments that members want to offer,” said Cardin, who noted that no Democrats have offered amendments. “We’re trying to go through those amendments, see if there is a way consistent with the purpose of the bill.”

One key poison pill amendment was offered by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.). His bill would require President Obama be able to certify that Iran hasn’t carried out or directly supported an act of terror against the United States or a U.S. citizen. The certification was removed as part of an agreement between Cardin and Corker to help gain Democratic support.

Cardin said he and Corker are looking for a way to allow the Senate to vote on something similar to Barrasso’s measure.

“We’re trying to work a way in which we’ll be able to take that issue up before the full Senate,” Cardin said.

But Cardin said that approving any amendments, including the Wyoming Republican’s, that go beyond the scope of Iran’s nuclear program would negatively impact the legislation.

“That’s why we call them poison pills,” he said.

Senators have been debating legislation, spearheaded by Corker, since late last week. Cardin urged senators that have amendments to come speak with him or Corker to find a path forward.

“I would just urge my colleagues, take a look at your amendments, work with Senator Corker, work with me,” he said. “Let’s see whether we can accommodate within the framework of the legislation your concerns.”