Sen. Tim Kaine Says Obama Administration Must Get Congressional Approval for ISIS Strikes

Office of Senator Tim Kaine(WASHINGTON) — Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, said in a statement on Monday that President Obama must seek Congressional approval for airstrikes against militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Kaine, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said that he agrees that ISIS, “poses a significant terrorist threat to U.S. interests and partners in the region,” but that he doesn’t believe that recent administration action is covered by the existing authorization from Congress. He urged the Obama administration to request additional approval from Congress, so that U.S. leaders remain “united on U.S. policy going forward.”

Calling Congressional approval, “what the framers of the Constitution intended,” Kaine nonetheless applauded the U.S. military’s ability to push back ISIS forces, but urged the president to request additional clearance and allow Congress to, “vote up or down on it.”

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio