Four House Republicans broke with the rest of their party on Thursday to back an end to the Iran war, the first vote since several American troops were killed after fighting resumed earlier this month.
The outcome was unchanged from a vote taken in June, when House Democrats successfully passed a resolution directing President Donald Trump to end hostilities or seek congressional approval for the war. But it served as a temperature check on Republican support for the administration after a fragile ceasefire fell apart on July 8.
Since then, four service members have died from Iran-launched strikes. Trump attended a dignified transfer for those soldiers a day earlier.
Reps. Tom Barrett (R-MI), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Thomas Massie (R-KY) sided with the Democrats on Thursday in a 214-208 vote, as they have on previous war powers resolutions. Every Democrat supported the measure.
BILL CASSIDY COULD DELIVER TRUMP HIS LATEST IRAN WAR REBUKE AFTER US CASUALTIES
The vote marks a rare setback for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who earlier in the week managed to keep his conference together on a budget blueprint that would direct tens of billions in new spending to the Pentagon. Republicans also passed a sweeping bill that sets defense policy for the agency each year.
Due to their narrow House majority, Republicans can only afford to lose two members on any party-line vote.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
