Democratic senators say they will oppose any funding deal without Iran war limits
Senators Bennet, Van Hollen, Duckworth and independent Bernie Sanders issued the statement Thursday, before government funding runs out on December 11.
Some Democrats want to use the Dec. 11 government funding deadline to try to cut off money for the Iran war. Sens. Michael Bennet, Chris Van Hollen, Tammy Duckworth and independent Bernie Sanders said Thursday they would oppose any short-term spending deal without language restricting the Trump administration from using appropriated funds to continue the war. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said Thursday he is working on language to end the war and wants it attached to the next stopgap bill.
The Epoch Times reports that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not say at a Nov. 10 news conference whether Democrats would withhold votes on the December bill. Republicans control both chambers until January. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, a Republican, said a Republican will not send bills to a Republican president that he would veto.
Pressing the demand could lead to a partial . Republicans are also divided over whether to pass a party-line bill with more Pentagon money. Semafor reports that Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he does not know if he has 50 Republicans ready to pass the budget resolution it would need.
The Daily Caller cites a Pentagon estimate of the war's cost at $47.1 billion as of mid-October.
- Dec. 11date current government funding runs outThe Seattle Times
- $47.1 billionwar cost as of mid-October, by Pentagon estimatesDaily Caller
- nearly $70 billionIran war money Trump wants, as Sen. Patty Murray describes itThe Epoch Times
- 50 Senate votesneeded for a party-line reconciliation billSemafor
Three sides of the story
10 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from liberal outlets
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Liberal1 outlet
Republicans split and planless over Pentagon war money
Semafor looks at the Republican side of the fight under the headline "Republicans reckon with Iran war funding quagmire." It reports that Senate Republicans reelected John Thune as leader but say they have no plan yet for a party-line bill sending billions to the Pentagon. Sen. Bernie Moreno calls such a bill the "last supper" for the party's reign.
Sen. Roger Wicker says "we need to get reconciliation done," while Sen. Rand Paul calls it "tone-deaf" and vows to oppose it. Sen. John Hoeven argues a bill would give Republicans leverage over Democrats before the new Congress. Budget Chair Ron Johnson says he is not getting engagement from the White House or leadership.
Semafor also notes that opposition among Democrats to any war funding is beginning to build, that the Senate is set to sit for just four more weeks, and that Hegseth is facing Republican questions after escaping a House . Its analysis closes: "it's already late."
Center4 outlets
Democrats weigh a shutdown fight over war funding
The Seattle Times runs a wire report titled "Democrats mulling Iran war funding cutoff strategy." It opens with a group of prominent Senate Democrats seeking to tie an end to war money to legislation Congress has to pass, an effort it says makes a bipartisan agreement harder. It quotes Tim Kaine, "I'm not there yet," and the joint statement from Bennet, Van Hollen, Duckworth and Sanders.
It also quotes Tom Cole on vetoes, Patty Murray saying lawmakers are "looking at all options," and Hakeem Jeffries. It says Republicans are unlikely to agree and notes that sources say the administration is considering a stopgap through March. The Hill reports that party leaders have yet to decide whether to risk a shutdown.
Forbes says Schumer may see a challenge from someone at the head of the effort to end war funding or force a Dec. 11 shutdown.
Conservative5 outlets
Democrats risk another shutdown to stop war spending
The Center Square leads with Democrats "warning they won't accept" any funding deal without a ban on Iran spending. It quotes the four senators' statement and recounts the 76-day shutdown in February and the 42-day shutdown over health subsidies. It says Congress has not authorized the war and that the Pentagon ignored a war powers resolution.
The Daily Caller puts Sanders in its headline and quotes the statement, "we must force him to end it." It cites a $47.1 billion Pentagon cost estimate and Silver Bulletin polling in which fifty-seven percent of Americans opposed the war. The Epoch Times gathers Van Hollen, Murray, Schumer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Rep. Joe Cunningham.
It also quotes Thune, who says Democrats must decide whether to work with Republicans on affordability or pursue what he calls "fantasies" some candidates espoused.
- Liberal outlets did not mentionJoint statement by Sens. Bennet, Van Hollen, Duckworth and Sanders opposing any funding deal without Iran war language Reported by The Seattle Times, The Center Square, Daily Caller
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All sources: 11 articles from 10 outlets
Liberal (1)
Center (4)
- Forbes: Iran War Funding Fight Intensifies As Potential Senate Showdown Looms
- Roll Call: Democrats mulling Iran war funding cutoff strategy
- The Hill: Senate Democrats weigh December funding deadline to force an end to Iran war
- The Seattle Times: Democrats mulling Iran war funding cutoff strategy
Conservative (6)
- Daily Caller: Bernie Sanders, Powerful Democrat Lawmakers Want Iran War Funding Freeze As Part Of Any Gov’t Funding Deal
- Just the News: Group of influential Dems demand ban on Iran spending in government funding stopgap
- The Center Square: Iran funding fight raises shutdown risk for aviation workers
- The Center Square: Dems demand government funding stopgap include ban on Iran spending
- The Epoch Times: Democrats Weigh Using December Funding Deadline to Force End to Iran War
- Washington Examiner: ‘Arm the Iranian people’ is a slogan, not a strategy
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