The Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a Democratic-led effort to block President Trump
Donald TrumpTexas family arrested for role in Capitol riot Poll: McAuliffe holds 2-point lead over Youngkin in Virginia governor's race On The Money: Inflation spike puts Biden on defensive | Senate Democrats hit spending speed bumps | Larry Summers huddles with WH team MORE from lifting sanctions against three Russian businesses.
Donald TrumpTexas family arrested for role in Capitol riot Poll: McAuliffe holds 2-point lead over Youngkin in Virginia governor's race On The Money: Inflation spike puts Biden on defensive | Senate Democrats hit spending speed bumps | Larry Summers huddles with WH team MORE from lifting sanctions against three Russian businesses.Senators voted 57-42 to end debate on the resolution, falling short of the 60 votes needed. If all Democrats supported the measure, they needed to win over 13 GOP senators.
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GOP Sens. John Boozman
John Nichols BoozmanTrump getting tougher for Senate GOP to ignore Former NFL player challenging Boozman in Arkansas GOP primary Senate GOP opens door to earmarks MORE (Ark.), Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsMurkowski: Trump has 'threatened to do a lot' to those who stand up to him Trump Jr. calls on Manchin, Tester to oppose Biden's ATF nominee House Republican says colleagues' 'job' is to slow Democratic priorities MORE (Maine), Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonFormer NFL player challenging Boozman in Arkansas GOP primary China's military prepares for war, while America's military goes 'woke' Top GOP health policy adviser to run for California controller MORE (Ark.), Steve Daines
Steven (Steve) David DainesHillicon Valley: Lina Khan faces major FTC test | Amazon calls for her recusal | Warren taps commodities watchdog to probe Google Senators propose bill to help private sector defend against hackers GOP senator introduces constitutional amendment to ban flag burning MORE (Mont.), Cory Gardner
Cory GardnerEx-Sen. Cory Gardner joins lobbying firm Biden administration reverses Trump changes it says 'undermined' conservation program Gardner to lead new GOP super PAC ahead of midterms MORE (Colo.), Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David HawleyNavy secretary nominee pledges to be 'exclusively focused on the China threat' Made for Vegas: Trump's rallies now a 'nostalgia act' Giuliani to stump for Greitens in Missouri MORE (Mo.), John Kennedy
John Neely KennedyMORE (La.), Martha McSally
Martha Elizabeth McSallyGOP group launches million ad campaign pressing Kelly on filibuster Democrats facing tough reelections back bipartisan infrastructure deal McGuire unveils Arizona Senate campaign MORE (Ariz.), Jerry Moran
Gerald (Jerry) MoranGraham: Bipartisan infrastructure pay-fors are insufficient This week: Democrats move forward with Jan. 6 probe Bipartisan senators ask CDC, TSA when they will update mask guidance for travelers MORE (Kan.), Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Goldman Sachs - Biden backs Cuban protesters, assails 'authoritarian regime' Protests escalate US-Cuba tensions Mia Khalifa turbo-charges social media protests of Cuban government MORE (Fla.) and Ben Sasse
Ben SasseMurkowski: Trump has 'threatened to do a lot' to those who stand up to him GOP senators applaud Biden for global vaccine donation plans Pence: Trump and I may never 'see eye to eye' on events of Jan. 6 MORE (Neb.) voted to end debate on the resolution and advance it to a final vote.
John Nichols BoozmanTrump getting tougher for Senate GOP to ignore Former NFL player challenging Boozman in Arkansas GOP primary Senate GOP opens door to earmarks MORE (Ark.), Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsMurkowski: Trump has 'threatened to do a lot' to those who stand up to him Trump Jr. calls on Manchin, Tester to oppose Biden's ATF nominee House Republican says colleagues' 'job' is to slow Democratic priorities MORE (Maine), Tom CottonTom Bryant CottonFormer NFL player challenging Boozman in Arkansas GOP primary China's military prepares for war, while America's military goes 'woke' Top GOP health policy adviser to run for California controller MORE (Ark.), Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesHillicon Valley: Lina Khan faces major FTC test | Amazon calls for her recusal | Warren taps commodities watchdog to probe Google Senators propose bill to help private sector defend against hackers GOP senator introduces constitutional amendment to ban flag burning MORE (Mont.), Cory GardnerCory GardnerEx-Sen. Cory Gardner joins lobbying firm Biden administration reverses Trump changes it says 'undermined' conservation program Gardner to lead new GOP super PAC ahead of midterms MORE (Colo.), Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyNavy secretary nominee pledges to be 'exclusively focused on the China threat' Made for Vegas: Trump's rallies now a 'nostalgia act' Giuliani to stump for Greitens in Missouri MORE (Mo.), John KennedyJohn Neely KennedyMORE (La.), Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyGOP group launches million ad campaign pressing Kelly on filibuster Democrats facing tough reelections back bipartisan infrastructure deal McGuire unveils Arizona Senate campaign MORE (Ariz.), Jerry MoranGerald (Jerry) MoranGraham: Bipartisan infrastructure pay-fors are insufficient This week: Democrats move forward with Jan. 6 probe Bipartisan senators ask CDC, TSA when they will update mask guidance for travelers MORE (Kan.), Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Goldman Sachs - Biden backs Cuban protesters, assails 'authoritarian regime' Protests escalate US-Cuba tensions Mia Khalifa turbo-charges social media protests of Cuban government MORE (Fla.) and Ben SasseBen SasseMurkowski: Trump has 'threatened to do a lot' to those who stand up to him GOP senators applaud Biden for global vaccine donation plans Pence: Trump and I may never 'see eye to eye' on events of Jan. 6 MORE (Neb.) voted to end debate on the resolution and advance it to a final vote.The Trump administration announced plans late last month to relax sanctions on the three businesses — Rusal, EN+ and EuroSibEnergo — connected to Oleg Deripaska, an oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Under the 2017 sanctions bill, Democrats are able to force a vote on a resolution to block the administration from lifting the financial penalties.
Wednesday's vote hands the Trump administration a win after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
Steven MnuchinDemocrats justified in filibustering GOP, says Schumer Yellen provides signature for paper currency Biden's name will not appear on stimulus checks, White House says MORE was dispatched to Capitol Hill to lobby Congress to squash the resolution.
Steven MnuchinDemocrats justified in filibustering GOP, says Schumer Yellen provides signature for paper currency Biden's name will not appear on stimulus checks, White House says MORE was dispatched to Capitol Hill to lobby Congress to squash the resolution.He met with House Democrats last week and Senate Republicans on Tuesday to make the case that the sanctions against the three companies should be lifted because Deripaska’s ownership in the entities has fallen below 50 percent.
Mnuchin failed to sway enough senators to stop the resolution during an initial vote on Tuesday, where only a simple majority was needed. With Democrats holding 47 seats they had to win over at least four GOP senators on the first vote.
GOP senators who backed the resolution say they were unconvinced that Deripaska wouldn't maintain considerable sway over the companies under the Treasury Department's plan.
"For all intents and purposes between his shares, the independent shares that the Russian state-owned bank control and various other individual shareholders, I still think he retains operational control," Rubio told reporters ahead of the initial vote. "So they’re going to have to do better.”
But Tuesday's 57-42 vote still left Democrats a few votes shy of being able to defeat the expected filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerAcknowledging few options at home, Texas Democrats urge congressional action Scott sets July deadline for passing police reform The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Texas Dems flee to Washington MORE (D-N.Y.) urged Republicans to support the resolution to block the sanctions from being lifted if they believe that Putin is a "thug."
Chuck SchumerAcknowledging few options at home, Texas Democrats urge congressional action Scott sets July deadline for passing police reform The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Texas Dems flee to Washington MORE (D-N.Y.) urged Republicans to support the resolution to block the sanctions from being lifted if they believe that Putin is a "thug." "I'd like to make a direct appeal to my Republican friends who are wondering about this. … Do you believe America should take a tough line on Putin or do you think we should go easy on Putin and his cronies? From where I'm standing that's an easy choice," Schumer said.
The vote in the Senate means that the Trump administration will be able to lift the Russia sanctions.
Though House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
Steny Hamilton HoyerBipartisan antitrust leaders urge FTC to pursue Facebook case House passes 0B package, hoping to sway infrastructure debate Delta variant ignites new mask debate MORE (D-Md.) said this week that he would introduce a resolution in that chamber to block the financial penalties from being nixed, both chambers would need to pass a resolution of disapproval by Thursday in order to block the administration from lifting sanctions.
House Democrats have asked for an extension from the Treasury Department, but Mnuchin declined to discuss the issue with reporters.
Steny Hamilton HoyerBipartisan antitrust leaders urge FTC to pursue Facebook case House passes 0B package, hoping to sway infrastructure debate Delta variant ignites new mask debate MORE (D-Md.) said this week that he would introduce a resolution in that chamber to block the financial penalties from being nixed, both chambers would need to pass a resolution of disapproval by Thursday in order to block the administration from lifting sanctions. House Democrats have asked for an extension from the Treasury Department, but Mnuchin declined to discuss the issue with reporters.
The Russia sanctions resolution is the first piece of legislation the Senate has debated since the start of the 116th Congress. Democrats have blocked a separate GOP foreign policy bill three times, arguing lawmakers should be focused on ending the partial government shutdown.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocrats under new pressure to break voting rights stalemate Spiking inflation weighs on Biden economic agenda Charles Booker: Rand Paul is 'a joke' MORE (R-Ky.) knocked Democrats on Wednesday accusing them of trying to blow up an agreement negotiated by the Trump administration in order to "make a political splash."
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocrats under new pressure to break voting rights stalemate Spiking inflation weighs on Biden economic agenda Charles Booker: Rand Paul is 'a joke' MORE (R-Ky.) knocked Democrats on Wednesday accusing them of trying to blow up an agreement negotiated by the Trump administration in order to "make a political splash." "Political obstruction is their top priority. Everything else follows from that," McConnell said.
