House lawmakers on Thursday rejected, 212-219, a war powers resolution that sought to curb ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran, one day after the Senate voted similarly to quash its own effort.
The concurrent resolution, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was essentially a messaging vehicle that would have been nonbinding even if adopted in both chambers, as it would not have required the president’s signature. The Supreme Court in 1983 ruled that a “legislative veto” on executive branch actions, undertaken without the president’s signature, is unconstitutional.
Still, the vote was an opportunity for lawmakers to take a position on the issue. The votes fell largely along party lines, as most Republicans voted against the measure in a bid to give President Donald Trump room to maneuver, and most Democrats supported it as a check on the president’s ability to wage war.
