Some GOP members privately fear Russia sanctions bill to empower Trump much on tariffs

Some GOP members privately fear Russia sanctions bill to empower Trump much on tariffs

Congress delivered President Donald Trump one final win ahead of the midterms — a major Russia sanctions bill that critics warn will empower him to impose sweeping new tariffs that could reverberate across the economy.

The House on Wednesday gave final approval to the Russia sanctions bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The final vote was 262-159, with dozens of Democrats voting in support of the bill. It will next go to Trump’s desk for his signature.

Most GOP lawmakers support the bill. But privately, nearly a dozen Republicans had been lobbying party leaders in recent days to take out new tariff powers included in the bill — alarmed that it could further hike prices just ahead of the midterms, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team, however, rebuffed those proposed changes, those people said.