Senate Dems again block vote rejecting Iran deal

Washington • For the second time, Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a vote to move forward on a resolution rejecting the Iran nuclear deal, protecting President Barack Obama's key foreign policy initiative.

The measure failed to gain the 60 votes needed to advance — just as it did Thursday. The vote was 56-42.

Though the measure is unlikely to advance, Republicans staged the Senate vote to make political points against Democrats and in future Senate races. They point to polls showing Americans have reservations about the deal.

Frustrated with the outcome, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., set up a third vote for Thursday on a measure that would bar Obama from lifting sanctions on Iran unless Iran recognizes Israel as a state and releases U.S. prisoners in Iran.

"Either way this debate will continue," the Republican leader said.

As debate resumed Tuesday, McConnell accused Democratic senators of refusing to let the Senate vote on the deal. "A strong, bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives voted to reject the deal. A strong, bipartisan majority of the Senate would vote to reject the deal, too. If only Democrat senators would stop blocking the American people from even having a final vote on one of the most consequential foreign policy issues of our age."

McConnell quoted Obama as saying, "I believe Congress owes the American people a final up-or-down vote."

But Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said Tuesday's vote — and possibly another one later in the week — was an exercise in futility. "We had this vote last week. I don't know why we're doing a replay of this."

Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., maintain the issue is settled, especially with the congressional review period expiring Thursday. He called the votes a "charade."

The Vatican, just ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Washington next week, welcomed the agreement. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See's secretary for relations with states, said in Vienna on Monday that the Vatican backs the agreement because it thinks the best way to resolve disputes is through dialogue and negotiation.