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).
Six Flags Bans Popular YouTuber ‘For Life’ After Viral Chicken McNugget Video
National Park Service ranger dies after falling into crevasse on Mount McKinley during climbing patrol
USDA Secretary Faces Lawsuit for Explicitly Christian Messages to Employees
Ex-CIA official stole $40 million in gold by making fake top-secret spy program
Top House Democrat says there’s ‘no way’ Platner didn’t know tattoo’s Nazi origins
Michigan athlete lured by Snapchat message before being shot, dumped in lake while still alive
Trump Offers Timeline for When Gas Prices Will Start Dropping Again
Former Indiana Rep Stephen Buyer receives full pardon from Trump for 2023 insider trading conviction
The Dubious Legal Theory That Could Make Life Even More Expensive For Americans
Trump moves to slash intelligence office ahead of permanent chief’s arrival
Democrats are running on working-class résumés. Republicans question the credentials
Why do we feel beckoned by ‘Backrooms?’
GOP victor in CA House primary cites major momentum shift in deep blue state: ‘Californians are tired’
WATCH: Hawley fumes after 4 GOP senators help sink Trump-backed voter ID law
WATCH: Maine voters divided on Platner as scandals shadow Democratic primary
“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.
