Reid pushes to end debate on Iran bill

Democrats are pressuring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to cut off debate on legislation that would allow lawmakers to review a final Iran nuclear deal.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday said it’s time for McConnell to file for cloture on the bill and shelve the dozens of pending amendments, including one that would link the nuclear deal to Iran’s recognition of Israel.

“The majority leader should file cloture now to preserve this legislation. Destructive members within his own party have forced his hand,” Reid said. “I support the majority leader in taking this step because it’s the only path forward.”

Invoking cloture and ending debate on the bill would require 60 votes.

{mosads}The future of the Iran bill was thrown in doubt late last week when Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is running for president, used a procedural tactic to force a vote on requiring Iran to publicly support Israel’s right to exist.

Democrats and the White House have warned the amendment could derail the underlying legislation, which was the byproduct of negotiations between Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Rubio and Cotton’s move has essentially left McConnell with three options: schedule a vote on the Israel amendment, file cloture on the legislation and prevent votes on dozens of Republican amendments, or try and negotiate some other solution with Rubio and Cotton.

Reid chided Rubio for the amendment Monday, saying that “a number of Senate Republicans are prioritizing presidential politics over national security.” He suggested that other senators, including Cotton, want to “undermine President Obama.”

McConnell had pledged to allow for a “full and open and robust amendment process” on the Iran bill, in line with his promise, after the midterm elections, to change the way the Senate does business.

If McConnell files cloture on the Iran bill, he would spare Democrats from likely having to take more tough votes on amendments ahead of the 2016 elections.

Senators voted last week on two amendments from Republicans. Reid said Democrats are willing to take more votes, but added: “We don’t have to. It’s not necessary.”

While McConnell’s office has remained tight-lipped about what the Kentucky Republican will do, a Senate aide told The Hill that cloture could be filled as early as this week.