GOP Sen candidate Mike Rogers breaks with Trump over Russia sanctions as retiring lawmakers lash president
Republican Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers is breaking with President Trump over his decision to waive sanctions on Russia — but he’s not buying claims that the president is siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.Rogers said Sunday that he would have voted for the bipartisan sanctions legislation Trump is now declining to enforce, arguing that the administration needs to do more to bring down soaring diesel prices hitting Michigan residents.“I would have voted for the sanctions bill on Russia,” Rogers said during a CNN State of the Union appearance with Dana Bash.“I don’t think we can give Putin an inch.And we will see.
If the strategy works, hey, good on him, because that means we’re going to pay less for diesel here in the United States,” he added.Trump announced Friday that he was waiving sanctions, restrictions and duties under the Graham Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at punishing Russia and countries that buy its oil and gas.The legislation, named after the late Sen.Lindsey Graham, was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate this summer and authorized tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian petroleum products.Trump’s waiver cited the “national interests of the United States,” even as the decision drew criticism from lawmakers in both parties who accused the administration of giving Moscow a break.“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump’s order said.
“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”Rogers, who has generally aligned himself with Trump on policy, said he was skeptical that the move would deliver the lower fuel prices the administration wants.“If the president has a better idea to get diesel prices down, I’d be for it,” Rogers said.“I’m just a little skeptical that this will work in the way that the administrat...