POLITICS/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The White House is asking House Republicans to weaken the Russia sanctions bill passed by the Senate last week so President Donald Trump isn’t inclined to veto it when it reaches his desk, The New York Times reported Thursday [6-22-17].
House Republicans have long been hawkish on Russia and most, if not all, want to punish Russia for its interference in the 2016 election. But a provision in the bipartisan legislation that would require the president to inform Congress before taking any action that could alter US sanctions on Russia has been a point of contention for the White House.
On the one hand, administration officials believe Trump should have more freedom to alter the US’s Russia policy. On the other hand, they are wary of how it would look if Trump — whose campaign team is being investigated for possible collusion with Russia — vetoed a bill punishing Moscow for meddling in the election.”
-Natasha Bertrand, “The White House is reportedly trying to remove a key portion of the Senate’s Russia sanctions bill,” Business Insider, June 22, 2017 11:25am