Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., joined by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, speaks about the Highway Trust Fund Bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on July 9. Late Thursday, Schumer, the most influential Jewish Democrat in Congress, came out against President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. Photo by Kevin Dietsch, UPI |
License Photo
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the most influential Jewish Democrat in Congress, came out against President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, striking a crippling blow to one of Obama's most controversial foreign policy initiatives.
Schumer, who is poised to assume leadership in his party, said he will oppose the deal to limit Iran's nuclear program negotiated by the U.S. and five world powers. While the decision was not entirely unexpected, it opened the door for others to come out against the deal. That includes Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Relations Committee, who expressed his opposition Thursday night.
Schumer said his chief concern was Iran would be free to build a nuclear bomb after a decade.
"Advocates on both sides have strong cases for their point of view that cannot simply be dismissed," Schumer said in a lengthy statement on Medium. "This has made evaluating the agreement a difficult and deliberate endeavor, and after deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval."
House and Senate Republicans have promised a vote on a resolution of disapproval when they return from vacation in September. But if they get that (and they likely will), Obama will veto it. When that happens, opponents must secure two thirds of lawmakers in both chambers to override the veto.
Opposition to the measure from Democrats has been largely concentrated in predominately Jewish areas, including New York City and South Florida. Those who have come out in opposition include Representatives Steve Israel of New York, the most senior Jewish Democrat in the House, and Nita M. Lowey of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, as did Representative Ted Deutch, a Democrat of Florida. They joined two other New York Democrats, Kathleen Rice and Grace Meng, in opposition.
Hours after Schumer's announcement, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin became the 16th Senate Democrat to come out in favor. The president needs 34 to sustain a veto.
