Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted on Thursday in favor of a War Powers Resolution to end the war in Iran just ahead of the war’s 60-day mark despite an earlier vote to allow it to continue.
[RELATED: Collins Votes Against Iran War Powers Resolution, Warns It Would “Send the Wrong Message” to Tehran…]
“As I have said since these hostilities began, the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief is not without limits. The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in decisions of war and peace, and the War Powers Act establishes a clear 60-day deadline for Congress to either authorize or end U.S. involvement in foreign hostilities. That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement,” said Sen. Collins.
“Further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close. I voted to end the continuation of these military hostilities at this time until such a case is made,” she added.
The vote came ahead of the war’s 60-day mark, where, under the War Powers Act, the president is required to cease hostilities unless Congress votes to declare war or extend the deadline. The President can extend it by 30 days if such an extension is required for the safe withdrawal of troops.
Thursday’s vote, a procedural vote to advance the resolution, came one day ahead of the 60-day mark since Congress was first notified of the start of hostilities on March second.
The final tally was 50-47 against moving the resolution forward, with Collins and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) being the only Republicans to support it. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was the only Democrat to vote against the resolution.
Though May 1 marks the 60-day deadline, members of the Administration have argued that the current state of ceasefire should not count towards that 60-day deadline.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which in our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday.
Speaker for the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) made a similar claim while speaking with NBC News.
“I don’t think we have an active, kinetic military bombing, firing or anything like that. Right now, we are trying to broker a peace,” said Rep. Johnson. “I would be very reluctant to get in front of the administration in the midst of these very sensitive negotiations, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.”
(Not) hard to believe this is the best Maine can do.
Finish the war, bring Iran to its knees. We’ve been kicking this can down the road for 47 years
She has to placate, the wacko district 1
She must just do things purely by the numbers, even Steven. She’ll get my vote though, if she doesn’t get primaried by the republicans in this state. The demonrat alternative is just too frightening.
I keep hearing that Collins “does her homework” from a local radio talk show host. Fair enough, but although she’s far better than the Nazi/Commie, she’s just proven once again she’s a RINO.
Voting against MAGA betrayer and goyim slave to Israel Trump’s and the neocons’ war is a good thing.
Collins never misses a chance to embarrass our state.
The Was Powers Act of 1973 is UNconstitutional, and should be put to the test, with a SCOTUS decision and Trump doing what he must in spite of it to bring Terrorist Jihadi Taqiyya mouthed murderers to their knees and surrender. It has No Constitutional authority over his Constittional War Powers as defined in the US Constitution. It infringes on the president’s Article II authority as commander-in-chief, and courts have never officially ruled on its constitutionality. It was a knee jerk improper reaction post Vietnam, that is all.
Nope: I gotz my 190 million dollars from the taxpayers of United States of America (n), to spread around and get my name in the papers……Aye Vay! Where’s Edmund Muskie crying on national tv? I guess it’s official, an East Coast Nancy Palozzi. Do we start erecting the statues and stadiums?
I’m so sick of holding my nose and voting for this finger in the wind RINO.
When will a real conservative primary her? This would have been the year to do it. A NAZI socialist rich boy would be easy to beat.
Collins, What a Loser and self-server! According to her, we should allow Iran, a Terrorist Regime to have a Nuclear Bomb with ICBM delivery capabilities in the hands of a LUNATIC TERRORIST STATE Like Jihadi Islamic Iran who has said they would use it against the USA and Israel I suppose-– IF THE TIME IS UP on our Miltary Actions via a non-constitutional TIME LIMIT? I Suppose we should Cut and Run and Give our Enemies a Victory? IRAN is already USING the ACT in their “Negotiation Delay Strategy” AGAINST US to ReARM! INSANE! TRump must and will ignore it if need be, as he should . The War Powers Act of 1973 is clearly Unconstitutional! Trump should put it to the test if need be!
Hold your nose and vote for the Republican.
Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of War.