Texas Reps. Split Along Party Lines In House War Powers Resolution

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution Thursday that would limit President Trump’s ability to declare war on Iran.

By Rhonda FanningJanuary 10, 2020 7:01 am,

On Thursday, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution to limit President Trump’s ability to declare war on Iran. The resolution would require him to go to Congress first before making any declaration of war. Now, the measure moves to the Senate, and if approved, it wouldn’t require the president’s signature to be enacted.

Benjamin Wermund is Washington correspondent for the Houston Chronicle, and he says the resolution is mainly a political move by House Democrats. The Texas congressional delegation was split along party lines in the vote. Wermud says some members were “pretty vocal” during debate on the House floor. Republican Will Hurd, for example, warned that the move could be used as part of anti-Trump propaganda abroad.

The sentiment from Texas Democrats, on the other hand, was that Trump acted recklessly when he approved the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Wermund says.

But some Republicans outside of Texas supported the resolution. Now the resolution moves to the Senate where Wermund doesn’t expert Texas’ Senators – both Republicans – John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to support it, though Cornyn has said the situation is a serious matter.

 

Written by Caroline Covington.