Iran, Russia sanctions bill faces procedural problem in US House
A bill aimed at imposing new sanctions on Iran and Russia has hit a roadblock in the US House of Representatives.
A procedural problem in the lower chamber of the United States Congress could halt a quick vote for the legislation that passed the Senate nearly unanimously last week, US lawmakers said Tuesday.
Last week, senators voted 98-2 to pass the Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act, to which anti-Russia sanctions were also attached.
Before it is signed into law by US President Donald Trump, the measure has to pass the House.
Lawmakers are now arguing that the legislation violates the US constitution.
The so-called "blue slip" violation occurs thanks to a constitutional requirement, which stipulates that any bill raising revenue for the government must originate in the House not the Senate.
"The final bill, and final language, violated the origination clause in the Constitution," Representative Kevin Brady, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters.
According to Reuters, Democrats are suggesting that the delay is intentionally engineered by the Republicans out of loyalty for Trump, who opposes imposing extra sanctions on Russia.
"This is nothing but a delay tactic and the public shouldn't be fooled by complex-sounding parliamentary procedure," said Representative Eliot Engel, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Identical versions of the Senate legislation have previously passed the House with no objection.
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