Why Does the GOP Support Lifting Sanctions on Oligarch?

[Hank77]

A bipartisan attempt to condemn the Trump administration for relaxing Russia sanctions stalled in the Senate Wednesday after Republicans banded together to block the effort.
.....
Eleven Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure. They weren’t convinced by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s argument that the sanctions should be lifted because the Russian firms had reorganized and had severed Deripaska's control.

GOP blocks Senate rebuke of Trump on Russia sanctions

EDIT: MAJOR UPDATE see post below

Do the members of the GOP believe that Deripaska just gave up his control or that these Russian companies turn against him?

 

[Speedwell]

Because they're either Trump supporters or afraid of primary challenges from Trump supporters in their districts.

 

[camille70]

Because they're either Trump supporters or afraid of primary challenges from Trump supporters in their districts.

I think some are compromised by Russia as well.

 

[zephcom]

A bipartisan attempt to condemn the Trump administration for relaxing Russia sanctions stalled in the Senate Wednesday after Republicans banded together to block the effort.
.....
Eleven Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure. They weren’t convinced by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s argument that the sanctions should be lifted because the Russian firms had reorganized and had severed Deripaska's control.

GOP blocks Senate rebuke of Trump on Russia sanctions

Do the members of the GOP believe that Deripaska just gave up his control or that these Russian companies turn against him?

If the Russian own the president there is no reason to not believe they own members of Congress also. After all, candidates for Congress have to sell their souls to the highest bidder to raise the money to campaign.

The truth is, the American public has no idea who owns which congress critter. We just know that someone owns every one of them.

 

[mark46]

I would note that the original vote on Russian sanctions was 98-2.

 

[Hank77]

I would note that the original vote on Russian sanctions was 98-2.

Original vote, when, which bill?

 

[Albion]

It looks to me like this is a case of the Republicans in the Senate being unwilling to allow the opposition to win on a point that is important to the Senate Democrats only as a way of sticking their fingers in the eye of the President.

They really couldn't care one way or the other if the administration makes these minor moves that were contemplated, except that it would be to let the president function in his capacity as president.

And despite the use of the word bipartisan in the OP, not a single Democrat broke ranks to vote with the (majority of the) Republicans. That should tell everyone what the real issue was for them.

 

[Ringo84]

They're agents of Putin.
Ringo

 

[AllButNone]

A bipartisan attempt to condemn the Trump administration for relaxing Russia sanctions stalled in the Senate Wednesday after Republicans banded together to block the effort.
.....
Eleven Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure. They weren’t convinced by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s argument that the sanctions should be lifted because the Russian firms had reorganized and had severed Deripaska's control.

GOP blocks Senate rebuke of Trump on Russia sanctions

Do the members of the GOP believe that Deripaska just gave up his control or that these Russian companies turn against him?

Going to link this article, it's a few weeks old, but gives plausible justification for lifting sanctions (and thus that the rebuke isn't warranted).

That said, suspicion of Deripaska's continued involvement is warranted, and it's also appropriate to have suspicions of the white house--there's little reason at this point to extend any credit to it on Russia issues. I have little doubt politics is playing a role here too.

All the same, I'm pretty sympathetic to the economic argument, and I suspect that economics along with the White House's general compliance with law in this situation (*edit, and maybe some fear too, or a desire to be a team player) is why, say, somebody like Romney didn't vote for the rebuke.

 

[KCfromNC]

A bipartisan attempt to condemn the Trump administration for relaxing Russia sanctions stalled in the Senate Wednesday after Republicans banded together to block the effort.
.....
Eleven Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure. They weren’t convinced by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s argument that the sanctions should be lifted because the Russian firms had reorganized and had severed Deripaska's control.

GOP blocks Senate rebuke of Trump on Russia sanctions

Do the members of the GOP believe that Deripaska just gave up his control or that these Russian companies turn against him?

Hey, come on now. Be fair. The NRA isn't going to illegally funnel their own money to GOP candidates. It has to come from somewhere, and [some] Republicans aren't going to win friends by making life tough for the people who pay the bills.

 

[mark46]

Original vote, when, which bill?

Senate joins House in overwhelmingly passing new Russian sanctions

 

[Albion]

All the same, I'm pretty sympathetic to the economic argument, and I suspect that economics along with the White House's general compliance with law in this situation (*edit, and maybe some fear too, or a desire to be a team player) is why, say, somebody like Romney didn't vote for the rebuke.

My guess is that Romney and Sasse voted with the Democrats because of their hostility towards the president, and the rest of the Republicans who voted yes on the resolution (with the possible exception of Collins) were just opposed to softening anything about sanctions when it comes to Russia.

 

[mark46]

My guess is that Romney and Sasse voted with the Democrats because of their hostility towards the president, and the rest of the Republicans who voted yes on the resolution (with the possible exception of Collins) were just opposed to softening anything about sanctions when it comes to Russia.

Sasse has a history on being tough on Russia. I would NOT expect him to vote to remove sanctions.

Ben Sasse: Trump should declare Russia an 'enemy of America' - CNNPolitics

=====

As does Romney. Romney has been clear about not removing sanctions.

Romney was right about Russia (Opinion) - CNN

 

[Hank77]

All the same, I'm pretty sympathetic to the economic argument, and I suspect that economics along with the White House's general compliance with law in this situation (*edit, and maybe some fear too, or a desire to be a team player) is why, say, somebody like Romney didn't vote for the rebuke.

The rebuke vote is purely political in my view.
How is lifting the sanctions on these Russian businesses economically advantageous to the US?

 

[Hank77]

Senate joins House in overwhelmingly passing new Russian sanctions

That's what I thought you were referring to. Dems. don't want to lift sanctions so I'm not sure what your original post meant.

 

[Allandavid]

It looks to me like this is a case of the Republicans in the Senate being unwilling to allow the opposition to win on a point that is important to the Senate Democrats only as a way of sticking their fingers in the eye of the President.

They really couldn't care one way or the other if the administration makes these minor moves that were contemplated, except that it would be to let the president function in his capacity as president.

And despite the use of the word bipartisan in the OP, not a single Democrat broke ranks to vote with the (majority of the) Republicans. That should tell everyone what the real issue was for them.

Or maybe the ‘yes’ voters could see no reason to change the decision that received 98-2 support the first time!

 

[Michael]

I would note that the original vote on Russian sanctions was 98-2.

That's the part that simply blows me away. It makes no sense to me that they would vote the way they just did (to allow sanctions to be lifted) when there was so much consensus about imposing the sanctions in the first place. It's not like Putin has turned over a new leaf recently.

 

[Hank77]

UPDATE
House Republicans vote against Trump administration lifting sanctions on Putin-linked oligarch’s companies
In a surprise move Thursday, the House voted against a Treasury Department plan that would lift sanctions on the companies of Russian oligarch and Kremlin ally Oleg Deripaska.

In what was an effective rebuke of President Donald Trump, 136 Republicans broke ranks and voted with House Democrats to oppose the plan. The move came exactly one day after the Senate blocked a measure proposed by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer that would have prevented the Trump administration from lifting the sanctions on Deripaska’s three firms. Only 11 Republicans in the Senate voted for the measure, which failed to win the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.

 

[mark46]

It's time to send the bill to the Senate.

UPDATE
House Republicans vote against Trump administration lifting sanctions on Putin-linked oligarch’s companies
In a surprise move Thursday, the House voted against a Treasury Department plan that would lift sanctions on the companies of Russian oligarch and Kremlin ally Oleg Deripaska.

In what was an effective rebuke of President Donald Trump, 136 Republicans broke ranks and voted with House Democrats to oppose the plan. The move came exactly one day after the Senate blocked a measure proposed by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer that would have prevented the Trump administration from lifting the sanctions on Deripaska’s three firms. Only 11 Republicans in the Senate voted for the measure, which failed to win the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.

 

[AllButNone]

The rebuke vote is purely political in my view.
How is lifting the sanctions on these Russian businesses economically advantageous to the US?

Unfortunately I haven't seen any studies that have examined the direct impact of these sanctions, so I'm just going off of general economic principles. The aluminum market is somewhat tight at the moment, and sanctions were pushing Rusal to making cuts in aluminum production and refining. These cuts would have meant relatively higher prices and potential shortfalls on global markets, of which the US is a part. It's tough to see how US companies would be isolated from this, though whether the impact is minor or significant, I can't say.

Even so, the Trump administration has actively worked to constrain foreign supply of aluminum (tariffs), and has had relatively little sensitivity to the concerns of allies in this area, so it's surprising that the White House is choosing to show sensitivity now, with this particular Russian company, especially given Rusal's changes appear more cosmetic than substantive. Sure makes a person a wonder...

I'm sure senate republicans aren't oblivious to the above contradiction. I don't really disagree with you on the politics of it, just wanted to note that there are some additional considerations. Consider it more a defense of Romney (and a couple of others) than of the Republican majority.