Republicans, Democrats Unite to Usurp Trump's Authority to Negotiate Russian Sanctions

Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Jul. 23, 2017

Democrats and Republican politicians finally came together over the weekend to deny President Trump the ability to do his job.

While they refuse to come together to secure our borders, reform our suicidal immigration policies, fix our broken health care system, simplify our tax code and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, politicians in both parties agree America must continue to stay on a Cold War footing with Russia in accordance with the last two decades of Neoconservative, Israel First, America Last foreign policy -- even though Trump was elected to do just the opposite.

From USA Today, "Congress strikes deal on Russia sanctions, despite Trump objection":

House and Senate negotiators brushed aside White House objections Saturday and reached agreement on a broad sanctions bill that will make it more difficult for President Trump to unilaterally ease or end punitive measures against Moscow.

The package punishes Russia for meddling in the U.S. presidential elections and for its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.

The White House had objected to a key section of the bill that would mandate a congressional review if Trump attempted to ease or end the sanctions.

I’m pleased both parties have reached agreement on sanctions legislation to hold #Russia and #Iran accountable. https://t.co/cybLoFJEv8 1/2 pic.twitter.com/zhfoaqQ9dh
— Steny Hoyer (@WhipHoyer) July 22, 2017

Under the terms of the bill, Trump would be required to send Congress a report explaining why he wants to suspend or terminate a particular set of sanctions. Lawmakers would then have 30 days to decide whether to allow the move or reject it.

The agreement clears the way for passage of the legislation before the August recess, with a vote in the House expected as early as Tuesday.

In Moscow, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian president Vladimir Putin, called the adoption of the agreement "very negative," the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the legislation "strong" and said he expected the legislation to be passed quickly.

Incidentally, the same politicians who support this bill to strip Trump of his ability to negotiate foreign policy with Russia and Iran also support the anti-free speech "Israel Anti-Boycott Act" (S. 720), which would criminally outlaw support for boycott campaigns against Israel with threats of 1$ million fines and 20 years and prison.

U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Criminally Outlaw Support for Boycott Campaign Against Israel https://t.co/yPDLAnX899
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) July 19, 2017

I'm sure that's just pure coincidence.

Donald Trump, without question, should veto this bill and excoriate our congress if it lands on his desk.

It's very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2017

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