WASHINGTON — A group of Democratic senators led by Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine tried — and failed — to advance a resolution prohibiting President Donald Trump from taking unilateral military action in Cuba, days after Havana publicly rejected U.S. demands.
In a mostly party-line April 28 vote, 50 Republicans and one Democrat blocked the Senate from taking up the measure. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the Democrat who voted across the aisle.
Two GOP lawmakers, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky, bucked their party, joining with Democrats in hopes of curbing Trump's actions in the Caribbean nation.
Democrats were aiming to keep the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities in or against Cuba without congressional approval. Trump has been warning of a takeover of Cuba, feeding anxiety among Democratic lawmakers who are fearful that negotiations with Havana are a pretense for an invasion.
"When there are efforts by an executive to go too far, then it is up to Congress to stand up and provide a check," Kaine said in remarks on the Senate floor ahead of the failed vote. He has led similar attempts in the Senate to stop military hostilities in Iran.
