STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Lawmakers are voting this week on measures to limit the president's war powers. The Republicans in the Senate blocked a largely Democratic-backed measure to do that on Wednesday. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has more.
CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: A day after senators heard details of strikes on Iran in a closed-door briefing from the Trump administration, Republicans voted, mostly along party lines, against advancing a bill to stop the military operations without congressional sign-off.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: On this, the yeas are 47, the nays are 53. The motion to discharge is not approved.
GRISALES: Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, told reporters after the briefing this week that he voiced concerns about the Trump administration's pattern of behavior when it comes to military action.
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TIM KAINE: No advanced notice. No authorization. We'll give you a hearing after the fact and classified. We can't really talk about it. I said, it's convinced many of us in the room that you've decided that you will never come to Congress.
GRISALES: Kaine cosponsored the failed Senate measure with other key players, such as Kentucky GOP Senator Rand Paul. Paul voted with Democrats while Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman joined the GOP to block the plan. Talking to reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said ending operations now...
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MIKE JOHNSON: It would put the country in serious harm. And it would certainly jeopardize the lives of our troops and all those who were involved in making these great sacrifices to defend us.
GRISALES: Republicans have echoed the president's argument that he was safeguarding Americans from an imminent threat. And there's also a risk of retaliatory strikes. But even some GOP lawmakers who support Trump say there may be limits. South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace says she does not want a 20-year war. And she worries an extended conflict could lead to more U.S. casualties and a price tag of trillions of dollars.
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NANCY MACE: I do believe that this can be done in a succinct and surgical way. I don't want to see troops on the ground. That is my No. 1 concern, is I do not want boots on the ground.
GRISALES: Democrats like Kaine say the votes may fail this week, but they will keep trying.
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KAINE: Thursday will be the first effort of all Congress going on the record about this, but I can assure you it's not going to be the last.
GRISALES: Kaine says he has a list of other war powers resolutions he may bring in the future.
Claudia Grisales, NPR News, the Capitol. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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