The Senate blocked a resolution that would have checked President Donald Trump‘s military authority in Cuba as tensions rise between the United States and the communist nation.
The upper chamber voted against bringing to the floor a Democratic-led resolution that would have prohibited Trump from engaging in hostilities with Cuba unless the action was authorized by Congress. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) led the charge on defeating the effort.
“The measure we’re talking about is completely out of touch with the facts in Cuba, nor is it relevant to anything actually happening in Cuba right now. President Trump has never suggested we put troops on the ground in Cuba, so this entire effort is moot,” Scott said on the Senate floor.
Scott, whose state is geographically the closest to Cuba and contains a large Cuban population, introduced the procedural measure to stop the Democrats’ Cuba war powers resolution. The Senate approved Scott’s measure to buck the war powers vote by a vote of 51-47. GOP Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) voted with Democrats, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) joined Republicans in striking down the resolution.
“This president has never said he wants to put boots on the ground. This is a complete waste of our time, and it’s a complete insult to Cubans in Cuba and Cubans in my state,” said Scott, who raised concerns about how the communist regime treats its political prisoners.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) sponsored the Cuba war powers resolution along with Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). In bringing forth the resolution, Kaine had raised concerns over Trump’s rhetoric regarding the Cuban regime.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in March, “I do believe I’ll be having the honor of taking Cuba.”
RICK SCOTT RIPS DEMOCRATS VISITING CUBA ON HEELS OF ISRAEL CRITIC HASAN PIKER
“Americans want President Trump to focus on lowering costs, but all he seems to be interested in is sending our sons and daughters into war to topple foreign governments — with no clear strategy or benefit to the U.S.,” Kaine said in a statement on his war powers resolution.
The Senate has shot down multiple war powers resolutions brought forth by Democrats this session, the latest before Cuba related to Iran.
