Senate Democrats blocked the first spending bill of the season over Sen. Tom Cotton's attempt to force a vote on Iran, injecting controversy over the administration's nuclear deal into what had been a relatively smooth appropriations process.
The chamber voted 50-46 Wednesday against ending debate on a spending bill funding water and energy programs. But if the bill had advanced over the 60-vote threshold, Democrats could have been forced to vote on Cotton's Iran amendment, which Democrats believe amounts to a vote on a political "poison pill" intended to make them look bad. (Read More)
