The Senate’s bid to fund the government next year without hiccups remained stuck in neutral Monday, as Democrats hoping to avoid a difficult vote on Iran dug in and blocked the first of a dozen 2017 spending bills for a third time.
Democrats twice filibustered an energy and water bill before last week’s recess and sustained their objections Monday, protesting what they called a “poison pill” add-on to $37.5 billion legislation that covers everything from flood control to the U.S. nuclear weapons program.
They object to an amendment proposed by Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, that would halt President Obama’s attempt to buy heavy water from Tehran in the next fiscal year.
Mr. Obama would veto the underlying bill if it tries to stop any part of his controversial Iran deal, so Democrats had said it made no sense to even debate or vote on the measure.
All four but Democrats voted “no” in Monday’s test vote, denying GOP leaders the 60 votes they needed to proceed with the bill.
Republicans said every senator has a right to offer an amendment, and that Mr. Cotton even agreed to subject his proposal to a 60-vote supermajority to pass.
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“We should vote on it. That’s what we do in the United States Senate,” Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Republican who is shepherding the bill. “We vote. In the Grand Ole Opry, you sing. We have a difference over the Cotton amendment, let’s vote on it.”
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, filed cloture on the Cotton amendment, setting up a test vote on the proposal as early as Wednesday.
Democrats who’ve fumed over the measure said their promises to cooperate on the dozen 2017 spending bills came with two conditions: First, the bills must abide by spending levels the parties agreed to last fall, and second, they the GOP can’t ask for votes on tricky partisan proposals.
Mr. Alexander defended Mr. Cotton’s right to offer his proposal, though he wished the Arkansan hadn’t used the appropriations bill as the vehicle for his effort.
He said he will vote against Mr. Cotton’s measure because he fears that Iran might decide to sell its heavy water to a volatile state such as North Korea, which has its own nuclear ambitions.
“If we’re not allowed to buy it — by this amendment — someone else will buy it,” Mr. Alexander said.
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• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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