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).
Lawmakers scramble after Trump derails bid to revive key counterterrorism tool days after FBI thwarts UFC plot
Supreme Court unanimously strikes down gun law used to prosecute Hunter Biden
Jason Whitlock: Gregg Popovich’s ‘Communist’ Politics Gave Spurs Star a ‘Victim’ Mentality
‘I’m Going to Rip Your Teeth Out’: UK Code Enforcement Officer Freaks Out During Mohammed Discussion
Interior Department heralds algae treatment in Reflecting Pool, comparing it to ‘destroyed’ Iranian navy
LDS church celebrates delivering 6.5M meals across all 50 states for America250 anniversary
Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann kept ‘Dexter’-style kill room but wasn’t as smart as he thought: DA
Several Trump-Endorsed Candidates Score Big Primary Wins, One Suffers a Close Loss
Hegseth announces 6-month review of American forces in Europe, blasts NATO allies for putting troops ‘at risk’
MLB accused of ‘double standard’ after calling out players’ Bible messages despite backing BLM in 2020
Race Hustlers Are About to Scream About Police Shooting This Little Boy – Don’t Let Them Start in the Middle of the Story
Iran peace deal inspires little celebration as US banks on ‘good behavior’ and ‘understanding’ from Tehran
Florida couple reaches agreement with daughter’s biological parents after alleged IVF mix-up
Florida court says 18-year-olds have same gun rights as other adults
DHS moves all detainees out of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ amid hurricane concerns
“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.
