Will Democrats Start Voting For Bills They Support Now?

Democrats Filibustered The Bipartisan Bill Of Middle East Security Measures

Democrats filibustered the bill 3 times. (S. 1, Roll Call Vote #1: Motion rejected 56-44: R 52-1; D 4-41; I 0-2, 1/08/2019; S. 1, Roll Call Vote #2: Motion rejected 53-43: R 49-0; D 4-41; I 0-2, 1/10/2019; S. 1, Roll Call Vote #3: Motion rejected 50-43: R 47-1; D 3-40; I 0-2, 1/14/2019)

“The Middle East bill was expected to advance before Democrats over the weekend raised the idea of preventing debate and votes on anything other than bills to reopen the government. The idea was quickly embraced Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other members of his caucus.” (“Democrats Block Middle East Bill In The Senate Over Shutdown,” CNN, 1/08/2019)

• “Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) would have voted for the foreign policy bill if the government were open but helped lead the charge on the Democratic filibuster Tuesday.” (“Senate Dems Block Middle East Bill Over Shutdown,” Politico, 1/08/2019)

Yet Dems Voted To Advance Their Own Foreign Policy Bill

“McConnell argued … that by calling up the Russia sanctions measure, Schumer and the Democrats were demonstrating that they were not really prepared to block all Senate legislative activity until the end of the partial government shutdown. Democrats have thus far blocked limiting debate on multiple motions to proceed to a package of Middle East policy bills that were held over from 2018, including security assistance for Israel and additional Syria-related sanctions.” (Roll Call, 1/16/2019)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “We have to take this vote now.” (Sen. Schumer, Congressional Record, S. 201, 1/15/2019)

• Every Senate Democrat voted to set aside the bipartisan bill on Israel, Jordan, and Syria to advance a bill dealing with Russia. (S.J. Res. 2, Roll Call Vote #5: Motion agreed to 57-42: R 11-42; D 44-0; I 2-0, 1/15/2019)

Package Of Bipartisan Legislation ‘Is Designed To Illustrate The Need For A Strong, Continuing U.S. Presence In The Middle East’

“The Senate is moving quickly to assert its point-of-view on U.S. policy regarding Syria and in the broader Middle East …” (“Senate Set To Assert Itself On Syria Sanctions, Middle East Policy Early In 2019,” Roll Call, 1/03/2019)

• “Senate aides say the move is designed to illustrate the need for a strong, continuing U.S. presence in the Middle East and re-assert the role of Congress on national security.” (NBC News, 1/03/2019)

“The bill, also called the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act, rolls together four bills that were supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the last Congress but weren't ultimately enacted before the year ran out.” (NBC News, 1/03/2019)

• “The most notable component may be a bipartisan package of additional sanctions against the Syrian government, the Central Bank of Syria and affiliated entities.” (“Senate Set To Assert Itself On Syria Sanctions, Middle East Policy Early In 2019,” Roll Call, 1/03/2019)

• “The package also includes a bipartisan bill opposing boycotts or divestment from Israel that Rubio authored with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia in the last Congress.” (“Senate Set To Assert Itself On Syria Sanctions, Middle East Policy Early In 2019,” Roll Call, 1/03/2019)

• “Other parts of the Senate bill aim to bolster U.S. support for allies who neighbor Syria and are thus on the front lines of pushing back against the extremist threat in Syria as well as Iran's presence there. One piece boosts U.S. defense cooperation with Jordan while another authorizes continued U.S. financing to Israel to buy American weapons and allows the U.S. to transfer its own munitions to Israel in an emergency.” (NBC News, 1/03/2019)