Kerry: Congress Can Vote As Long As It Doesn’t Interfere with Obama’s Deal

Wednesday on PBS “NewsHour,” Secretary of State John Kerry articulated the administration’s new position on Sen. Bob Corker’s (R-TN) bill demanding Congress get a vote on the merits of President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, in light of prominent Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) supporting the bill this week.

Making it clear the bill can not “interfere” with the president’s deal, Kerry said “if it’s changed and adjusted and reflects the respect for the Constitution and the president’s prerogatives,” then Congress can vote.

Kerry said “The president is absolutely correct in making sure that what Congress does, does not assault presidential authority and the Constitution and doesn’t destroy his ability to be able to negotiate this final deal. That’s critical. And the president has said, if the bill is what it is today, written the same way it is today, then he’d veto it.”

Adding “But if it’s changed and adjusted, reflects the respect for the Constitution and the president’s prerogatives, while at the same time embracing congressional oversight and review, fine.”

“One other thing I would say to you is—Congress is going to vote.,” he continued. “Congress can vote any day it wants to. You know, the majority leader has the right to bring something to the floor and have a vote. So this is really, I think, a little bit excessive. The truth is, also, Congress will have to vote to lift, ultimately, some of the sanctions which are congressionally mandated. So we all understand the process here and I just think we need to be serious in a way that does not interfere with the president’s ability to pursue the foreign policy interests of our nation.”