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).
Congress’ incoming wealthiest member vows to crack down on politicians getting rich in office
Virginia parents charged after house party draws hundreds of teens, fireworks and alleged underage drinking
OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney moved to new prison, listed as minimum custody inmate: records
Trump’s top officials retreat behind military gates as ex-FBI deputy points to what’s fueling threats
Dem Senator Who Called for RFK Jr to ‘Resign or Be Fired’ Is Backed By Big Pharma
Inside Senate GOP’s tense post-election reckoning as Thune clashes with Republican critics
Fed Up Over Soaring Power Bills, Georgia Voters Hand Spend-Happy Democrats Power Over What They Pay for Electricity
Democrat Pushes GOP Leadership to Renew Warrantless Spying Before His Party Takes Power
Bird Flu Outbreak Rages in Blue State as Illegal Farm Hands Dodge Health Officials, Union Says
Marc Siegel hopes readers will ‘look for signs from God’ through his new book The Angels Among Us
Small town residents cry for help as immigrant influx fueled by trucking industry has unintended consequences
Pro-transgender Washington attorney general recuses himself from defending female-only sports ballot measure
UPS cargo plane, Copa Airlines passenger jet collide at Miami airport, leaving 2 injured
Breaking: Musk’s SpaceX Catches Its Own Starship Falling Back to Earth in Historic First
Officials Shocked as Tanker-Cruiser Crash Ends in ‘Literal Miracle on the Mississippi’ with No Fatalities
“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.
