Congress Snuck New Russia Sanctions Into Spending Bill

Demise · 03-23-2018, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Buried in the massive $1.3 trillion spending bill that Congress is considering this week are strict new punishments against Russia, in what lawmakers and aides say is a message to President Donald Trump to reconsider his relaxed posture toward Moscow.

The legislation, which Trump was always expected to sign, includes restrictions that bar many federal agencies from engaging financially or otherwise with the Kremlin and its backers on a number of fronts. Lawmakers from both parties viewed those provisions and others as an opportunity to enshrine new punishments against Vladimir Putin’s regime at a time when the Trump administration has taken heat for its refusal to immediately and fully implement mandatory sanctions and other punishments.

“Those [sanctions] were a good first step. But I do think that these newer sanctions hopefully put a little more bite to it. And frankly I think that’s a good thing,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) told The Daily Beast. “The Russians are guilty of bad behavior all over the world. And so we shouldn’t be doing anything to encourage or condone that.”

The new measures come as the White House faces renewed criticism over its handling of Russia. Earlier this week, The Washington Post reported that the president, against the advice of his top aides, congratulated Putin on winning re-election to another six-year term. He also did not press Putin on election-meddling or on the nerve-agent attack on a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom.

Multiple lawmakers and congressional sources from both parties said the new financial barriers aimed at punishing Russia are both robust and significant, and were crafted in light of Russia’s continued aggression in eastern Europe and the Middle East in addition to the likelihood that the Kremlin tries to meddle in the 2018 midterm elections.

Democrats pointed to Trump’s reluctance to publicly criticize Putin and speak out about Russia’s activities, and said it was necessary for Congress to step in whenever possible to send the administration a message.

“With the appropriations bill, bipartisan majorities are once again sending the president tough new measures to push back on Russia and shore up our election system against future interference,” Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told The Daily Beast. “It’s time that the White House listens to Congress and uses the tools we’ve provided.”

Not strictly DA related, but keep this in mind if you think that the veto threat revolves around the wall or DACA.

BeansDreamtoo21 · 03-23-2018, 11:34 AM

Wrong thread.

Demise · 03-23-2018, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeansDreamtoo21

Wrong thread.

It takes a special kind of a person to say wrong thread as the first reply.

Red neck · 03-23-2018, 11:37 AM

Thise has to do with DACA because of his VETO comment so right thread....

BeansDreamtoo21 · 03-23-2018, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demise

It takes a special kind of a person to say wrong thread as the first reply.

You just posted this because you are anti trump and want to let everyone know he doesnt care about us. No shit?

Got_Daca · 03-23-2018, 11:41 AM

veto this shit

Demise · 03-23-2018, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red neck

Thise has to do with DACA because of his VETO comment so right thread....

Thank you, someone isn't utterly blind.

JJ Glo · 03-23-2018, 11:41 AM

This very well may be the biggest reason or simply one of many, which is why I think he will Veto.

Demise · 03-23-2018, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ Glo

This very well may be the biggest reason or simply one of many, which is why I think he will Veto.

I certainly hope he does because it makes his position indefensible when he's presented with an DACA+Wall bill.

chessmaster05 · 03-23-2018, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demise

I certainly hope he does because it makes his position indefensible when he's presented with an DACA+Wall bill.

Unfortunately, he's Trump. He can walk in the middle of Wall street and shoot people and he wouldn't loose a single voter.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

July

Congress Snuck New Russia Sanctions Into Spending Bill