Congress will have veto-proof majority for Iran sanctions

Washington Examiner

New Iran sanctions are coming, says Sen. Marco Rubio.

The Florida Republican has high expectations for the upcoming GOP-controlled Senate, hoping it passes Iran sanctions and approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

“I think we’ll have a supermajority, a veto-proof majority, to impose additional sanctions on Iran and to require the administration to come before Congress for approval of any deal that [President Obama] has with Iran,” Rubio told NPR’s Steve Inskeep, according to excerpts published by Politico Wednesday morning. “I think the same is true of the Keystone pipeline, potentially.”

Rubio said he hopes for a bill that will be ready to impose sanctions on Iran “upon a failure of the [nuclear] deal” within the next half year.

He also said he hopes the GOP holds off on pushing for comprehensive immigration reform before 2016, in an interview with New York Times Magazine published Wednesday.

"Those who argue that this [immigration reform] will be a bonanza for Republicans are not telling the truth,” Rubio told the magazine. “Those who argue that we should do it for the purpose of politics are also misanalyzing the issue.”

Though Rubio seemed focused on the task at hand for the upcoming Senate in both interviews, he didn’t shy away when asked about a 2016 White House bid.

Rubio said he is “closer to a decision than we were a month ago,” adding that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s announcement this month that he is “actively exploring” a bid for the presidency will not have an effect on his decision.

“We certainly know a lot of the same people; we also know some different people. I don’t believe if I decide to run for president that that will be an impediment,” said Rubio, who is up for re-election in 2016.

Bush is leading the potential 2016 field, with 17 percentage points, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls. Rubio is ninth.