Senate Democrats have drawn a rare line in the sand against a yearly, must-pass defense package in an act of rebellion against the President. They blocked a procedural hurdle for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a perennial bill that opens up funding for the Pentagon and military.
Many Democrats were already frustrated by the overall funding target of the package and were pushed over the edge by the renewal of the Iran war. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer charged on the Senate floor that Republicans wanted the upper chamber to take up the bill "as though none of this is happening." He claimed that the President is waging an unauthorized war, defying bipartisan majorities in Congress, and refusing to level with the American people at the cost of the mission or the endgame.
Senator Tim Kaine was one of the "no" votes on the Senate Armed Services Committee, a rare move. He said guardrails needed to be added to the President's war authorities in Iran and a deeper explanation provided of where exactly the staggering $1.15 trillion authorized by the bill would come from. Kaine stated that the Iran war issue is one of the major issues about the NDAA, but it's not the only issue.
Republicans, however, contended that taking the first step on the bill would allow for an amendment process to modify it. Senator Rick Scott said that it's frustrating that people need to come together and act in the best interest of the country. He emphasized the need for a strong military, citing that people decide to be enemies and want to destroy the country. Scott suggested that the bill should be passed and then amended if necessary.
