Corker, McConnell differ on Iran tactics

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and a Republican committee chairman are at odds on how to handle a carefully crafted bill on Iran.

McConnell wants the measure to pass, but he is backing amendments that could scuttle the underlying legislation, which would empower Congress to review any nuclear deal with Iran.

{mosads}Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) is lobbying his GOP colleagues to reject so-called poison pills to the bill. Corker and Democrats maintain that amending the legislation could lead the White House to withdraw its endorsement of it.

McConnell on Tuesday said that passage of the Iran bill would rank as one of the biggest accomplishments of the 114th Congress, but he’s not blocking GOP colleagues from proposing changes that could derail it on the floor.

Instead, he’s forcing Democrats to take tough votes on amendments such as two sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — who is running for president — requiring Iran to recognize Israel’s right to exist and to call on Iran to release prisoners in its custody.

Some of these votes could be used as political ammunition in 2016 to help the GOP preserve its Senate majority. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the Democrats’ top target next year, offered an amendment that calls for the deal with Iran to be deemed a treaty. That would require the Senate to approve it with a two-thirds majority.

McConnell voted for the Johnson amendment while Corker rejected it. The measure failed, 39-57. Republicans who voted with the Democrats to kill it included Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Joni Ernst (Iowa) and John McCain (Ariz.). Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is mounting a 2016 presidential bid, voted yes, while the other GOP White House hopefuls in the Senate missed the vote.

The majority leader’s strategy has angered Democrats and strategists from both parties, who say it could torpedo the fragile bipartisan coalition backing the bill. Earlier this month, the Iran legislation passed the Foreign Relations Committee, 19-0.

“He risks poisoning the atmosphere of bipartisanship by forcing tough votes for Democrats,” said John Ullyot, a GOP strategist and a former Senate aide. “It’s very tough to see now how this will get a veto-proof majority when he is putting Democrats in tough positions on votes.”

Ullyot says McConnell has to walk a fine line because he promised last year that he would allow many votes on amendments if Republicans took over the chamber. Yet, he also wants to get this bill to the president’s desk.

Democrats on Wednesday grumbled that McConnell was forcing them to do the tough work of defeating popular amendments.

“We can’t tell whether this is in the spirit of open floor debate on amendments or in the spirit of trying to make the Democrats look bad. I hope it comes to an end soon and this bipartisan bill is passed intact,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.).

Democrats ordinarily would support requiring Iran to recognize Israel’s right to exist or to push it to release prisoners or renounce terrorism. But the administration warns appending these conditions could derail negotiations with Iran.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday that President Obama would veto any legislation that undermines the bipartisan compromise passed by the Foreign Relations Committee or threatens diplomatic talks.

“And certainly a provision, an amendment that made this nuclear deal contingent on Iran’s release of those three American citizens would fall, I think, frankly, into both categories,” he said of Rubio’s amendment. “It certainly would interfere with the ongoing negotiations between the international community and Iran on their nuclear program.”

McConnell has left it to Corker to do the heavy lifting of fighting off amendments to the bill.

Corker has reminded GOP colleagues that they need 67 votes to override a presidential veto, which would come if the bill were changed. He warns Congress would have no chance to review an agreement without the legislation.

“The problem with going beyond the terms of the nuclear agreement on any of those certifications is that it affects the bill itself. That’s why we call them poison pills,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.), the ranking Democrat on Foreign Relations, who is working with Corker.

Senate Republicans say, unlike Corker, McConnell has not made any effort in private meetings to urge colleagues to vote against pending amendments.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another presidential hopeful in the Republican caucus, is pushing an amendment that would require lawmakers to pass legislation approving a final deal with Iran instead of a resolution of disapproval.

It was unclear at press time which amendments would be approved for floor votes.

Senate Republicans argue McConnell is only fulfilling his promise to allow for robust debate on the floor.

“He takes the long view and believes the best way to get the Senate working again is to allow votes on amendments. Otherwise legislation gets held up,” said a GOP senator who requested anonymity.

Another GOP senator noted that McConnell took an important step to protect the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act from alteration by striking an agreement with Democrats to set the threshold for adopting amendments at 60 votes.

McConnell reiterated his vision for Senate debate this week.

“I said a year ago that if we were given the majority, we would — on most occasions — have an open amendment process. And I think that applies certainly to an issue of this magnitude,” he told reporters. “Members need to be able to offer their ideas and get votes on them.”

But Democrats say McConnell is playing political games that could backfire.

McConnell voted Wednesday for an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) requiring the president to certify that Iran has not supported acts of terror against the United States or a U.S. citizen. Corker and six other Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against it.

“He is for sure trying to help out members of his caucus who have presidential aspirations. It doesn’t hurt that he gets to put some Democrats in a compromising position while he’s doing it,” said Rodell Mollineau, a Democratic strategist and former senior Senate aide.

“He’s playing fast and loose with our national security and should pray none of these amendments take down this vital piece of legislation,” he added.

The underlying bill would require Obama to submit a final deal with Iran to Congress within five days of its conclusion for a 30-day review period during which he is barred from suspending sanctions. Congress would have that time to pass a resolution of disapproval. If it did, Obama would have 12 days to veto and Congress would have an additional 10 to attempt to override it.

Jordain Carney contributed.