Eleven GOP senators voted to cancel President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national border emergency and his subsequent transfer of agency funding to build the border wall.
This 54 to 41 vote was not about the border wall, but whether “the Congress of the United States of America should yield its constitutionally prescribed power of the purse to the President,” said Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins.
“The answer to that question, regardless of who is in the White House … should be no,” Collins continued. “Congress alone is empowered by the constitution to adopt laws directing money from the U.S. Treasury.”
The president “stole” the money, and “I will not stand for that,” said Vermont Democrat Sen. Patrick Leahy. The president took the funding from other projects, such as the replacement of older schools at military bases, said Leahy, who is the top Democrat on the appropriations panel.
Senators should vote against the resolution because “there is no Earthly reason why Democrats would force us to have one or the other,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Key Democratic Senate Candidate’s Campaign Descends Into ‘Complete Chaos’
FBI raids Eric Swalwell’s property, seizes devices at airport in sexual misconduct investigation
Sherrill escalates Trump fight over voter fiasco day after Mullin praises NJ cooperation
ActBlue co-founder pleads Fifth Amendment in closed-door House GOP grilling
Ocasio-Cortez endorses Massachusetts Senate incumbent Ed Markey
USS George Washington arrives in Middle East
Presumed Lead Candidate to Replace Karoline Leavitt Says She’s ‘Not in the Running’
U.S. Conducting Successful ‘Stealth Operation’ in the Strait of Hormuz: Report
Harry and Meghan Abandoning US, Returning to Britain as Eye-Watering Monthly Cost of Their CA Mansion Is Revealed
Bloodied, ejected Marine Corps pilot seen calm and collected after Washington crash destroys aircraft
New judge has days to decide whether Karmelo Anthony’s conviction and 35-year sentence survive
Battle over federal courthouses erupts as GSA warns against giving judiciary more control
FL Voters Boot Cory Mills, the GOP Rep. Who Helped Keep Ilhan Omar from Being Stripped of Her Committee Assignments
The last January 6 case? Former DC police officer fighting conviction over contact with ex-Proud Boys leader
Trump urged to stop targeting fellow Republicans as GOP fights to keep majority
“The joint resolution is passed,” Utah Sen. Mitt Romney announced from the Senate’s chair.
The 11 GOP senators who voted against the emergency and the wall included Collins, Romney, retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN), along with Sens. Roy Blunt (MO), Mike Lee (UT), Jerry Moran (KS), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rand Paul (KY), Rob Portman (OH), Pat Toomey (PA), and Roger Wicker (MS).
Collins spoke during the brief debate and vote, saying she supported additional construction at the border.
Several GOP senators declined to vote.
Trump will likely veto the resolution, and the 54 votes in favor are not enough to overcome the president’s veto.
Trump announced the emergency in February after Democrats blocked the funding for the border wall. Trump’s emergency declaration uses powers that prior Congresses voted to give to the president.
Story cited here.
