Lynch, Capuano lean toward 'no' vote on Syria resolution

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Two lawmakers representing Massachusetts in Congress tell FOX 25 they will likely be among the majority in the House of Representatives expected to vote against a military strike in Syria.

Lawmakers will return from their five-week recess next week to debate a resolution that, if approved, would give President Barack Obama authorization to approve military strikes in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

As of Friday night, most major U.S. polls show a majority of the House of Representatives will vote against the strikes. The Washington Post reports there is enough votes against the resolution to defeat the measure.

FOX 25 caught up with Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano to find out how the Massachusetts representatives would vote.

Rep. Lynch says he is firmly going with a "no" vote.

"I think that we're setting a precedent where every time something like this happens, whether it's chemical or biological weapons or nuclear weapons, I think the world is expecting us to do this on a regular basis," said the South Boston Democrat.

The congressman supports President Obama and agrees the world needs to do something about the crisis in Syria, but says now is not the time to put our sons and daughters in danger.

"I don't think we should act unilaterally, and I think that the consequences of this are really unforeseeable at this point," Rep. Lynch explained.

Lynch's colleague from the 7th congressional district isn't standing quite as firm in his decision. He wants more answers before making a final decision on how he will vote.

"I am leaning against it, but I'm not going to close the door until the vote comes, because I want to give President Obama and Secretary Kerry every opportunity to make their case and to answer all the questions to the best of their ability that we all have," said Rep. Capuano.

The congressman also wants to discuss what would happen the next day if the U.S. attacks.

"I don't want to make Assad into some sort of anti-American hero for people who wish us badly, I don't want to be pushing Iran further away from discussions on nuclear weapons," said the congressman. "We all know they're trying to develop them, I don't want to be splitting us with other countries or inflaming the region."

Both congressmen agree that Assad probably did use chemical weapons and deserves to face consequences, but the U.S. can't go into this without backing from its allies.

"I think it is particularly telling that the rest of the world, our normal allies, are not with us at this point in time and I don't think that makes them any less moral than us, I think it just makes them possibly more pragmatic than us at the moment," said Rep. Capuano.

They also agree that while the president can act alone, he shouldn't call on Congress if he won't take their vote into account.

FOX 25 asked the congressmen about the backlash to Sen. Ed Markey voting "present" during the Foreign Relations Committee's 10-7 vote in favor of the resolution moving forward.

"Look, Ed's a lifelong friend and I think when everything's said and done six months from now no one will remember it because he's going to have to vote on the Senate floor soon," said Rep. Capuano. "If he didn't have enough information to vote, then I respect that and he will have to vote soon, probably next week, and that will be a yes or no vote and people will make a judgment there."

Rep. Lynch, who lost to Sen. Markey in the Democratic primary to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Secretary of State John Kerry, said he did not have any insight on the senator's decision.

The debate and possible votes on a resolution are expected to get underway Monday in Congress. The president is scheduled to speak to the nation Tuesday.

Cox Media Group