Graham's Russia sanctions bill at risk of stalling, NYT says
Photo: Late Senator Lindsey Graham (Getty Images)
The timeline for passing the late Senator Lindsey Graham's "bone-crushing sanctions" bill against Russia could be pushed back. The reason is a dispute among Democrats over expanding US President Donald Trump's powers, according to The New York Times.
At the center of the dispute is the text of the bill, which would allow — but not require — Trump to impose 100% tariffs on countries that purchase significant amounts of Russian oil and other energy products. The legislation also gives him the authority to lift those tariffs at his own discretion.
According to the NYT, Democrats have long objected to giving the president such broad discretion, while Republicans argue that the flexibility is necessary to increase pressure on Moscow.
Republicans have also warned that Trump would veto any bill aimed at limiting his freedom of action.
However, because the Trump administration has continued pursuing its tariff policy, leading Democrats have taken a firm stance against the provision, unwilling to grant him broader trade powers.
Democrats also argue that Trump already disregards Congress' authority by claiming sweeping powers that they believe he does not have.
What else is important to know
As reported earlier, Axios said a day earlier that a vote on the bill could take place as soon as next week. It was not ruled out that the vote could be held on Tuesday, July 28 — the day of Graham's funeral.
We also reported that a week earlier it became known that, following Graham's death, the bill had gained 60 co-sponsors.
