Senate delays vote to end Iran debate

The Senate delayed a procedural vote Thursday that would end debate on legislation allowing lawmakers to review a nuclear deal with Iran.

The vote scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday was delayed until 2 p.m. at the request of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

{mosads}Corker didn’t specify why the vote was being pushed until later in the afternoon. 

It’s possible the move could be to buy time for Corker to work on a manager’s amendment with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), which could make changes to the bill that would buy support from additional senators.

It also raises questions about whether Corker has the 60 votes necessary to end debate.

The Iran legislation would give Congress 30 days to approve or disapprove of a nuclear deal with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration.

It has come under criticism from several Republicans, who have also been upset that amendments to the bill have not received votes.

Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) last week tried to force a vote on an amendment that would require Iran to publicly acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as part of a final deal. 

In response, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) moved to end debate, which blocked a vote on the amendment.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on Wednesday pledged to block any amendment deal that was being negotiated by Corker and Cardin, unless he got a vote on his amendment.

Vitter’s ultimatum came after Cardin blocked the Louisiana Republican from modifying his previously submitted amendment. 

Cardin said Vitter’s attempt to modify his amendment would “interfere with the maximum number of amendment being considered.”

Vitter fired back that the Maryland Democrat’s response was “a bunch of bull.”