WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump faces a test of strength — and alikely defeat — Thursday in the US Senate, where a simmering revolt inRepublican ranks could help sink his border emergency declaration.
A handful of the party’s members are saying they will join Democrats tovote for a measure that would nullify the emergency declared by thepresident in February as a way to secure more funding to construct aprotective wall on the US-Mexico border.
Trump insists the move allows him to skirt Congress and re-purpose billionsof dollars in other government funds, including money that was ear-markedto build or renovate military facilities.
But Democrats and some Republicans have cried foul. They argue thatCongress is constitutionally appointed to control the government’s pursestrings — and declaring an emergency to seize more money is a blatantabuse of executive authority.
Republicans control the Senate, 53 to 47, but at least six Republicans havenow stated they will support the resolution of disapproval, givingDemocrats the numbers they need to squeak it through.
Senator Mitt Romney, a former Republican presidential candidate, said hewill back the measure, calling it “a vote for the constitution and for thebalance of power that is at its core.”
A group of Republicans sought to limit defections by cutting a dealWednesday with the president to limit his powers on emergency declarations,but Trump refused.
He set the stage for the showdown by using his now-familiar strong-armtactics, warning Republicans not to rebuke him on the emergency.
“Don’t vote with Pelosi!” he boomed on Twitter early Thursday, referringto House Speaker Nancy Pelosi whose Democratic-led chamber has alreadyapproved the resolution.
Despite the fist-shaking tweet, Trump was due to arrive at the US Capitolfor a Friends of Ireland lunch hosted by Pelosi and featuring Irish PrimeMinister Leo Varadkar.
– ‘Judgment of history’ –
If the measure does pass the Senate and go to Trump, he said he wouldblock it from becoming law by issuing the first veto of his presidency.
“I am prepared to veto, if necessary,” he posted. “The Southern Borderis a National Security and Humanitarian Nightmare, but it can be easilyfixed!”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed support for Trump’s move,describing a border security system “at the breaking point” as he sought torally his troops behind the president on the upcoming vote.
“The president is operating within existing law, and the crisis on ourborder is all too real,” McConnell said.
The but the chamber’s top Democrat couched it as a dangerous power grab byan unrestrained president acting out of “pique.”
“It’s our job, here in Congress, to limit executive overreach, to defendour core powers” of controlling how federal dollars are spent, SenatorChuck Schumer said on the Senate floor.
“This is not an everyday moment,” he added. “The judgment of historyweighs on this vote.”
The White House meanwhile laid out an ambitious 2020 budget proposal Mondaywhich contains $8.6 billion in new wall funding, considerably above the$5.7 billion Trump sought for this year.
It is highly unlikely that lawmakers will go along with it.
Congress already rejected the $5.7 billion, providing just $1.375 billionfor construction of 55 miles (90 kilometers) of barriers along the borderin Texas.
The vote could end up as the second embarrassing bipartisan rebuke ofTrump in as many days.
On Wednesday the Senate voted to end US military support for the bloodySaudi-led war effort in Yemen, despite warning from the White House thatdoing so would harm Washington’s ties with Riyadh and cripple efforts tocounter extremism in the region.
The House is expected to clear the measure and send it to Trump. – APP/AFP