Lisa Murkowski is pushing for something many of her GOP colleagues would rather avoid: a recorded vote on whether to keep the Iran war going. The Alaska senator wants the Senate to formally authorize continued military action now that the 60-day window under the War Powers Act has closed, saying Congress needs to define objectives, benchmarks, and an exit strategy, the Hill reports. But because her resolution needs 60 votes, meaning it can't pass without Democrat support, Republican leader John Thune has so far shown no interest in forcing his members to take a politically risky vote on an unpopular conflict months before the election.
That hesitation could backfire. Without GOP-backed authorization, more Republicans may join Democrats in supporting a separate measure that would order President Trump to pull US forces from the Iran fight. GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Rand Paul have already voted to halt military operations, and Republicans say a few more could follow. Murkowski is working to shore up support from Sens. Thom Tillis, John Curtis, Todd Young, and Josh Hawley, all of whom say Congress must sign off if the war continues.
Even if a withdrawal resolution clears the Senate, it would still need House approval and Trump's signature to carry the force of law. But without that, it would send "a loud rebuke to Trump," per the Hill. On Friday, Trump argued he doesn't need Congress' approval for military action because there has been "no exchange of fire" during the ceasefire with Iran, per the BBC. On Monday, the US military confirmed new battles with Iranian forces.
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