GOP delays Iran sanctions vote for State of the Union
The Senate Banking Committee will hold its markup next week after Democrats cry foul.
Republicans say they delayed an initial vote on Iran sanctions this week as a sop to Democrats but promised to move full-steam-ahead next week.
Meanwhile, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, came out forcefully against what he called a "rush" to action under newly minted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
"I don't know what the rush is," Brown told Al-Monitor. "The administration is doing what it needs to do in negotiations."
The Banking Committee had been scheduled to hold a hearing on sanctions Jan. 20 and a markup on Jan. 22, but announced a weeklong delay. Panel member and bill co-author Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said the panel agreed to delay action until after President Barack Obama's annual State of the Union address to Congress Jan. 20.
