GOP blocks House war powers resolution for second time

April 16 (UPI) — Republican members of the House of Representatives on Thursday questioned the patriotism of Democrats in the chamber while voting down a war powers resolution for the second time.

Although the margin of defeat was smaller, the resolution failed 213 to 214 as debate over the six-week old U.S.-Israeli war in Iran got heated, MSNOW and The Hill reported.

Democrats said they thought enough Republicans would vote to rein in President Donald Trump’s power to conduct the ongoing war, but several GOP House members that were “on the fence” about the bill decided not to vote for it.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who sponsored the bill, said he knew there were four Republicans who’d been thinking about voting for the resolution but the only way to find out how they would side was by bringing it to the floor for a vote.

The vote narrowed because three Democrats who previously had not supported the bill flipped to support it — Reps. Greg Landsman, Juan Vargas and Henry Cuellar.

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., lashed out at Democrats during comments on the House floor, questioning their patriotism and insisting that they “really want America to lose.”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responded that there “are patriots on both sides of this conflict, of this issue.”

“The most patriotic thing we can do is stand up to ensure that our men and women in uniform aren’t being recklessly sent into a costly war of choice,” Jeffries said.

Senate Democrats also have not been able to pass a war resolution in the upper chamber, but Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told MSNOW that more Republicans in both the House and Senate may be willing to question Trump’s power to wage war in Iran closer to the end of April.

Trump has 60 days to use military force after informing Congress he was taking action but it must end unless Congress issues a declaration of war or other authorization to continue the military activities.

A Republican in the House also told MSNOW that the 60-day deadline is what many Republicans are waiting for before voting to rein Trump in.