Syria Moves To Avert Strike
President Obama considers Russian proposal for international control of chemical weapons stockpile. NYT: "'It’s possible,' Mr. Obama said on CNN of the Russian proposal, 'if it’s real.' ... The effort to police such a proposal, even if Syria agreed, would be a laborious and prolonged effort, especially since Mr. Assad’s government has shrouded its arsenal in secrecy for decades ... Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, who was in Moscow, welcomed Russia’s proposal, though he stopped short of pledging that Mr. Assad would comply. His remarks, however, tacitly acknowledged that Syria possessed a chemical arsenal, something it had never publicly done ..."
AP reports this AM that Syria accepts proposal: "No time frame or further details were given about the proposal. It remained unclear whether Syria was making genuine strides toward a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that began in March 2011, or if the proposal was a ploy by Syrian President Bashar Assad to buy more time in the face of a potential U.S. strike."
France to seek UN support for Russian proposal. NYT: "... Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the French approach to the Security Council would be made under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which provides for an array of action, including military, to restore peace and urge the Syrians to accept that their chemical stockpiles would be dismantled."
McCain "warily" supports exploring offer. Time: "If there is an international [agreement], if you have the guidelines, the requirements, the reporting, the dates— all of that guided by a very detailed resolution to the UN Security Council, I think that you can’t say no to it even though I’m very dubious that this is a real proposal."
Senate delays vote. Roll Call: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced Monday that he would hold off on scheduling a test vote on a use-of-force resolution in order to give the president more time to make his case to the country and to lawmakers. The outcome of a Congressional vote remains uncertain at best, and even Obama declined to predict a win."
Senate Dems wavering. Politico: "...six senators — Republicans Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Roy Blunt (Mo.), as well as Democrat Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) — all came out against the Syria resolution, while Democrats Barbara Mikulski (Md.) and Martin Heinrich (N.M.) announced they’d back it. In addition, a number of other Democrats are officially undecided, and the White House fears they may vote against the measure. These include Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and the independent Angus King of Maine."
Sec of State Kerry tells House military threat key to Russian concession, but congresspeople still resist. Politico: "After enduring days of brutal skepticism from lawmakers of both parties, Kerry and other administration officials wasted no time in attempting to link Russia’s proposal to the pressure coming from the White House. Democratic lawmakers agreed ... Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who is supporting Obama’s decision to bomb Syria, will begin to hear pressure from House Republicans to allow a vote on the floor no matter what the Senate does. Opposing the president’s plan has become politically popular, and lawmakers want the ability to vote against it."
"Human Rights Watch has evidence proving Syria government responsible for chemical weapons attack. Time: "HRW’s extensive investigation, which relied on expert analysis from chemical-weapons and arms specialists along with witnesses’ accounts, concluded that the surface-to-surface rocket systems used to carry out the attack, along with the large quantity of nerve agent that was deployed during the assault on Aug. 21, match up with equipment that is only possessed by government troops in Syria."
GOP Moves To Avert Shutdown
House GOP seeks way out of shutdown threat. Politico: "...the procedure calls for sending the Senate a stopgap spending bill with a resolution that would alter the text of the bill once it’s enrolled for presentation to President Barack Obama ... the so-called enrollment correction would bar funding to carry out Public Law 111-148, Obama’s signature health care reforms. But the Democratic-controlled Senate retains the right to choose: accepting the spending resolution with or without the so-called correction ... the initial reaction Monday from conservative activists on the right was not favorable."
Compromise floated for level of spending in continuing resolution. Roll Call: "One Senate Democratic aide told CQ Roll Call that a clean, short-term continuing resolution at this year’s $988 billion level would likely get through the Senate, but the White House has yet to weigh in. Funding the government at this year’s levels is $21 billion higher than the $967 billion fully phased-in budget sequester would be next year under the 2011 debt limit deal. But it’s also $70 billion less than the $1.058 trillion Democrats and the White House have sought. Despite not pressing for the $967 billion level, Republican leaders would surely declare victory, given they are already promoting the benefits of keeping spending flat."
"Credit raters take pressure off Congress for debt deal" reports The Hill: "The 'big three' raters were a visible force during the debt-ceiling battle of 2011, warning that only a broad deal to reduce red ink could protect the nation’s credit rating ... Two years later, the credit agencies say they’re convinced lawmakers have learned their lesson. They cite the deal struck to avoid the 'fiscal cliff' as a sign that when push comes to shove, Congress can do what needs to be done ... both S&P and Moody’s revised their outlook on the nation’s debt from negative to stable this summer, meaning neither expects to be issuing downgrades anytime soon."
Democratic governor of Missouri beating back GOP tax cut. NYT: "[Gov. Jay] Nixon has turned the debate away from the Republican argument that lower taxes bring jobs and recast the tax cut as one that would hurt education and mental health services. The state’s school boards have rallied to his side. More than 100 of them have passed resolutions supporting the veto. And with a veto session set to begin on Wednesday, it is the supporters of the tax cut who are now pessimistic.
