US Republicans, pro-Israel groups step up campaign against Iran deal
(Worthy News) – Top Republicans vowed Wednesday to do their utmost to scrap President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran as the biggest pro-Israel lobby prepared for an all-out campaign to pressure wary lawmakers into rejecting the agreement, Ynet News reported.
As Congress opened a 60-day review of the deal, Republican US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner told reporters: “Because a bad deal threatens the security of the American people, we’re going to do everything possible to stop it.”
The most influential pro-Israel group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), will deploy about 300 lobbyists on Capitol Hill next week to try to convince lawmakers, especially undecided Democrats, to vote against the deal, according to officials in the pro-Israel camp.
AIPAC’s plans are being coordinated with allied groups such as Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran that are sponsoring a national television advertising campaign, the pro-Israel sources said. They are expected to spend upwards of $20 million, one source said. [ Source ]
Anti-Iran deal groups firing on all cylinders in massive lobbying push
One of the most aggressive opponents of the deal is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and a new nonprofit group it is supporting, Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran. AIPAC spent a record $1.7 million on lobbying so far this year to push for legislation that gave Congress the ability to review — and potentially vote down — the pact.
Congress can vote to reject the agreement, but it would take a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to override a presidential veto of any attempt to derail the deal. It is widely acknowledged that Democrats will likely be the deciding factor on the issue because most Republicans already oppose the agreement. [ Source ]