US Defence Bill

[Black Orchid]

WASHINGTON — The House gave final approval Friday to a defense bill that would put a liberal stamp on military policy by shackling President Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran and Yemen, restricting the use of military funds at the southwestern border and returning transgender troops to the armed forces.

The $733 billion National Defense Authorization Act was passed along stark party lines — 220 to 197 — with Republicans uniting to oppose the legislation. The defense policy bill has traditionally been a bipartisan exercise, but House Republicans have come out strongly against this year’s version.

The bill still must be reconciled with a Senate version that is considerably less confrontational with the Trump administration. And it is likely Senate negotiators will try to strip out many of the House’s provisions.

In amendment after amendment, lawmakers flexed their oversight muscles, reflecting a growing desire to take back long-ceded authority over matters of war and peace from the executive branch, a reclamation that legislators in both parties contend has grown more urgent amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Passage of the measure with support from liberal Democrats — and no Republicans — could set up another difficult showdown between Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and her left flank. Negotiations with the Senate will almost certainly result in a compromise measure that jettisons many, if not most, of the amendments secured by House liberals. That could set up a final vote that liberals will oppose, leaving Democratic leaders to appeal for Republican votes.

For now, though, the House bill bears the stamp of the resurgent left. The House passed a bipartisan amendment on Friday that would curb Mr. Trump’s ability to authorize a military strike on Iran unless he obtained Congress’s explicit approval. The 251-to-170 vote reflected general war weariness after almost two decades of conflict in the Middle East; 27 Republicans joined all but seven Democrats to approve it.

More at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/us/p ... -vote.html

[The4thEstate]

More lefty fun and games. House Democrats rise in the morning and go to sleep at night with their fists clenched, determined to do something to undermine Trump.

They still haven't reached the fifth stage of grief over the 2016 presidential election. They're like some high school kid who got dumped by his girlfriend a year ago, yet still leaves flowers on her doorstep.

My bet is that the Republican-controlled Senate will yank the Dems' anti-Trump restrictions faster than a gardener in a patch of dandelions.

Besides, "San Fran Nan" Pelosi is having enough trouble keeping her four freshmen in line. Between their wacko progressive stances and the Democrats' total embrace of illegal immigrants, they're doing more to enhance Trump's re-election chances than his own campaign staff.