This Kentucky Republican voted in favor of the Democrats’ war powers resolution
A Kentucky U.S. Representative was one of three Republicans who supported a resolution to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to make war with Iran without congressional approval.
Rep. Thomas Massie, whose district includes much of northern Kentucky, voted in favor of the resolution, which passed 224-194.
The resolution, which came days after a U.S. drone strike killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, seeks to limit the president’s war-making power without first seeking congressional approval. Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentucky’s only Democrat in the House, also voted in favor of the resolution, while the state’s four other Republicans voted against the resolution.
In a speech from the House floor ahead of the vote, Massie said the resolution “isn’t about supporting or opposing President Trump,” but is about ensuring the role of Congress in declaring war.
“We don’t need another war and if we do go to war, it needs to be with the blessing and support of the people and a clear mission that our soldiers can accomplish,” Massie said. “We do that by following the vision of our founding fathers and debate it here on the floor of the House.”
In his own floor speech against the resolution, Rep. Andy Barr, whose district includes Lexington, Frankfort and Richmond, said the resolution is “designed to handcuff” President Trump and “needlessly politicizes our national security.”
“This resolution is not safeguarding our constitution but attacking our constitution by attempting to divest a duly-elected president of his commander-in-chief powers and in the process emboldening our enemies,” Barr said.
Yarmuth, a Democrat representing Louisville, said in a statement that he is “unwilling to send any of our men and women in uniform into harm’s way on the orders of an impulsive and unstable president.”
Republican Reps. James Comer and Brett Guthrie, who both represent portions of Western Kentucky, praised the president’s decision to strike Suleimani and said the resolution would only constrain the president’s actions against Iran.
“While I have great respect for the separation of powers and wholeheartedly believe in Congress’ constitutional authority to declare war, Congress would be remiss to pass any resolution that weakens our commander-in-chief while he works to deescalate the present conflict with Iran,” Comer said in a statement.
Rep. Hal Rogers, a Republican who represents much of eastern Kentucky, said in a statement that “our national security is not a matter for political stunts.”
“Forbidding the use of force against any part of Iran’s government or military, even if they are imminently threatening American civilians, diplomats or allies is reckless,” Rogers said, according to WYMT.
The resolution moves to the Republican-majority Senate, which is considering its own version proposed by Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat. If every Senate Democrat voted for the resolution, three Republican votes would be needed for passage.
Kentucky’s junior senator, Republican Rand Paul of Bowling Green, joined Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, in voicing support for Kaine’s resolution on Wednesday.