Dem senator says Iran bill should be changed

A Democratic senator says an Iran bill that would require the administration to submit a final nuclear deal to Congress should be changed to address President Obama’s concerns.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) “is an original co-sponsor for the bill and he’s intending to make some modifications that will be acceptable to the White House,” an aide to the senator said on Wednesday.

The aide did not specify on what modifications Nelson would seek, or whether he would propose amendments to the bill on the Senate floor.

{mosads}The White House has been pressing Democrats to hold off on supporting the Iran bill, sponsored by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), arguing it could derail the negotiations ahead of the June 30 deadline for a final agreement.

Nelson, as one of the eight Democratic co-sponsors of the bill, is just the latest Democrat to express hesitation about moving forward with the bill as written.

The bill is slated for a Tuesday vote in the Foreign Relations Committee, where it is expected to pass. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has suggested he will bring the bill up for a floor vote, but hasn’t given a timeline for action.

However, with 13 Democrats needed for a veto-proof majority on the Senate floor — and 11 Democrats either co-sponsoring or voicing support for the bill — every Democratic vote counts.

On Tuesday, an aide to Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who is not a co-sponsor but has voiced support for the Iran bill, said the senator was “reviewing and making a decision on how he’ll vote next week.”

An aide to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who also voiced support for the bill, said it was “TBD” if the senator would vote for the bill or support a veto override.

Late last week, after a framework deal was announced, an aide to Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said he still supported the bill, but added, “if he’s not convinced the issue can be handled on the merits, then he will have to reconsider his support.” 

— Alexander Bolton contributed.