Heitkamp: I Cannot Support Senate Syria Resolution

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., center, joins Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, right, and Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, left, to speak to reporters as the Senate votes on a farm b... Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., center, joins Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, right, and Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, left, to speak to reporters as the Senate votes on a farm bill that sets policy for farm subsidies, food stamps and other farm and food aid programs for the next five years, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, June 10, 2013. Officially known as the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, the agriculture policy measure would cost taxpayers $100 billion annually with the bulk of that amount allocated to the federal food stamp program which helps low-income families buy food. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) said in a Monday statement that she does not support the current Senate authorization for military action in Syria.

“I still believe we need to have an open and honest discussion on the Senate floor about the potential use of force in Syria,” Heitkamp said. “However, after all these meetings, I still have serious concerns.  I cannot support the current Senate resolution to authorize force at this time.”

Heitkamp and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who also said he opposes the current resolution, are working on an alternative that would give Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 45 days to sign an international chemical weapons ban and begin turning over his regime’s chemical weapons stockpile.

Follow TPM’s ongoing Syria whip count here.

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