“Putin Is Playing Games”: US Senate Prepares Crushing 500% Tariff on Russian Energy Buyers

3 comments

1. They going to call Trump and co.’s bluff on this, then?

   Try and force this through the normal way, so he has to either go along with it, or show his true colours (again) 

2. Here’s a breakdown of the US legislative process in relation to the proposed bill.

   **Number of Senators:** There are 100 senators in the US Senate, with two from each of the 50 states.

   **Senators Needed to Pass a Bill:** For a bill to pass the Senate and move to the next stage, it generally requires a simple majority, which is 51 votes. However, due to Senate rules and practices, particularly the filibuster, often 60 votes are needed to overcome procedural hurdles (like a filibuster) and bring a bill to a final vote. The news states that the bill already has the support of 81 senators, which is well over the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster and ensures easy passage if all those senators vote in favor.

   **What Needs to Happen for it to Become Legislation:** The bill has already been introduced in the Senate by Senators Blumenthal and Graham.
   * Committee Action: The bill will be referred to one or more relevant committees for review, debate, and potential amendments. Committees can hold hearings to gather expert testimony and public input. If a committee doesn’t act on a bill, it effectively “dies.”
   * Senate Floor Vote: If the committee approves the bill, it will be brought to the full Senate for debate and a vote. As mentioned, with 81 co-sponsors, it’s highly likely to pass the Senate.
   * House of Representatives: After passing the Senate, the bill must also pass the House of Representatives by a simple majority vote (218 out of 435 members).
   * Conference Committee (if necessary): If the House passes a different version of the bill, a conference committee composed of members from both chambers will be formed to reconcile the differences and create a single, identical bill. Both the House and Senate must then vote to approve this conference report.
   * Presidential Action: Once the identical bill passes both the Senate and the House, it is sent to the President. The President has a few options:
   * Sign it into law: The bill becomes law.
   * Allow it to become law without a signature: If the President does not sign the bill within 10 days (excluding Sundays) while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.
   * Veto it: The President can reject the bill and send it back to Congress with their objections.

   **Can the US President (Trump) stop it?** Yes, the US President can veto a bill even if it is voted on successfully by enough senators and the House of Representatives.
   However, Congress has the power to override a presidential veto. To do so, both the House and the Senate must vote to pass the bill again with a two-thirds majority in each chamber. Given that 81 senators are already supporting the bill, a two-thirds majority in the Senate (67 votes) is certainly achievable. The challenge would then shift to securing a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives.

   **Timescale for it to Come into Effect:** The timescale for a bill to become law can vary significantly. It depends on several factors, including:
   * Committee process: How long committees spend reviewing and debating the bill.
   * Legislative calendar: When the bill can be brought to a vote on the Senate and House floors.
   * Debate and amendments: The extent of debate and the number of amendments proposed.
   * Conference committee negotiations: If a conference committee is needed, the time it takes to reach a compromise.
   * Presidential action: The President has 10 days to act on a bill once it reaches their desk.
   * Effective date: The bill itself might specify an effective date. Some laws take effect immediately upon becoming law, while others have delayed effective dates to allow for implementation.
   Given the expressed support of 81 senators, this bill appears to have strong bipartisan backing, which could potentially expedite its passage through the Senate. The biggest hurdles would likely be gaining similar support in the House and, if vetoed, securing the two-thirds vote in both chambers to override a presidential veto. It could take weeks or months for it to move through the entire legislative process.

3. Is it really crushing?

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