Obama Tells Congress He Has Authority to Take Action Against ISIS

Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — President Obama speaks to the nation Wednesday night about his strategy to go after Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). And after his meeting with congressional leadership Tuesday, the White House says the president has no intention of asking Congress to approve the mission.

Despite the pleadings of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Obama told senior members of Congress that “he has the authority he needs to take action against ISIL in accordance with the mission he will lay out in his address tomorrow night,” according to the White House’s readout of the meeting.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kaine took to the Senate floor to implore Obama to seek congressional authorization for further strikes on ISIS.

“I don’t believe that the president has the authority to ‘go on offense’ and wage an open-ended war on ISIL without congressional approval,” Kaine said.

“If we take the Constitution seriously, as we pledge to do when we take our oaths, we must follow the command that the president must come to Congress to initiate major military action,” he added.

There were also suggestions that McConnell would be telling Obama in the Oval Office that he ought to seek congressional approval for any further strikes.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Obama told congressional leaders “he would welcome action by the Congress that would aid the overall effort and demonstrate to the world that the United States is united in defeating the threat from ISIL,” the readout says.

But, the White House insists, the president does not need Congress’ permission.

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