GOP lawmakers: No need for ISIS vote with good Obama strategy

Republican lawmakers say that if President Obama presents a good strategy on Wednesday for handling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a congressional vote to authorize military force won’t be necessary.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said if the president puts out a good strategy, there would be no need for a vote. 

{mosads}”That would be my view. But it’s got to be workable,” he said. “I want to really hear him out, so I want to really give him the benefit of the doubt,” he told The Hill. “I want to hear what he’s proposing.” 

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) has introduced legislation to authorize military action against ISIS and other terrorist groups. His bill provides broad authority to the administration, imposing no time limit on action or prohibiting the use of ground troops.

He said Tuesday that a vote would be “the right thing to do.”

“I think there would be a healing process for the American people to see Republicans and Democrats, House, Senate, Congress and the administration working together to keep the nation safe,” he told The Hill. 

But he said whether Congress pushes for a vote will depend on “what the president says tomorrow night.” 

—Martin Matishak contributed