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Schumer to Weigh In on Iran Deal After Review in ‘Little Chair’

Schumer warned Republicans against "any effort to politicize" the Congressional Budget Office. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Schumer warned Republicans against "any effort to politicize" the Congressional Budget Office. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Charles E. Schumer might have more to say about the deal with Iran about its nuclear development after some time in his “little chair.”  

The New York Democrat could be the key to whether there are 67 votes in the Senate to override a veto by President Barack Obama of legislation disapproving the agreement the United States and its partners negotiated with Iran.  

“I’m going to read the documents carefully this weekend. I’ve been so busy with highways and education. I want to first sit in my little chair in my house, take the agreement, the codicils, the annexes and read them and ponder them and study them,” Schumer told reporters Thursday. “Then I intend to start talking to people and experts. But the first step is to do that.”  

Schumer expanded on that point a bit in an interview with MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki, according to a clip circulated Friday afternoon. Schumer said he had learned over decades that in public service, “on important things, just do the right thing.”  

“I’m going to spend a lot of time speaking about it, learning about it, and then I’ll just do the right thing,” he said. “I’m not going to let party or pressure or anything else. What’s good for America first and foremost, and what’s good for Israel, which of course I care a lot about.”  

Schumer is among the staunchest supporters of Israel among Senate Democrats, and he’s already lined up the support to be the next party leader when Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., retires at the end of the current Congress.  

“I’m not going to comment until I read the document, but that’s what’s going to guide me,” Schumer said in the interview . “But look, when I think the president’s wrong I go against him. I just voted against the trade bill and [Trade Promotion Authority] because I thought it hurt middle-class incomes. The president talked to me regularly on this issue, but I told him unless it changes, even if it helps corporate profits, I’m not going to be for it if it decreases middle-class incomes.”  

TPA advanced through Congress to Obama’s desk with largely Republican votes, supporters he clearly does not have with respect to Iran.  

Nicole Puglise contributed to this report.


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