Trump retreats on border bill but vows emergency declaration to get wall

By Richard Cowan and Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will sign a border security and federal spending bill to avert another government shutdown but also will declare a national emergency to try to obtain funds for his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall, the White House said on Thursday, drawing immediate criticism from Democrats.

 

The bipartisan legislation, passed by the Republican-led Senate on Thursday before going to the Democratic-led House of Representatives for final congressional approval, denied Trump the funds he had demanded for a border wall, one of his central 2016 campaign pledges.

 

In a move that could infringe upon the power of Congress over the national purse strings and plunge Trump into an extended court battle with lawmakers over constitutional powers, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump will declare an emergency. Trump's administration has suggested he could use national emergency powers to redirect money already committed by Congress for other purposes towards paying for his wall.

 

"President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action - including a national emergency - to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

 

But the top Democrat in Congress immediately denounced the president's move. Asked by reporters if she would file a legal challenge to an emergency declaration, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "I may, that's an option." The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, accused Trump of a "gross abuse of the power of the presidency."

 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said he will support Trump on an emergency declaration.

 

Congressional aides said House Democrats were expected to file a lawsuit when Trump declares a national emergency in order to protect the House's constitutional powers to decide how U.S. taxpayers' money is appropriated.

 

In denying funding for Trump's wall, Congress has stood in the way of the president's ability to follow through on one of the key promises and applause lines from his 2016 campaign. Moving to an emergency declaration is a next step that Trump has been exploring for weeks.

 

A source familiar with the situation said that the White House had identified $2.7 billion in funds previously provided by Congress that could be redirected to barrier funding as part of a national emergency.

 

The source said White House lawyers had vetted the figures and believed they would withstand a legal challenge.

 

The Senate passed the federal spending legislation by a margin of 83-16. The House was expected to take it up later on Thursday. The measure would provide more than $300 billion to fund the Department of Homeland Security and a range of other agencies through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

 

The legislation includes $1.37 billion in new money to help build 55 miles (88.5 km) of new physical border barriers. That is the same level of funding Congress appropriated for border security measures last year, including barriers but not concrete walls.

 

Funding for those agencies is due to expire on Friday, which would trigger another partial federal shutdown on Saturday morning if Congress and Trump do not act quickly.

 

'END-RUN'

Pelosi accused Trump of doing "an end-run" around Congress and around the Constitution's separation of powers that gives Congress, not the president, federal spending authority.

 

"It's not an emergency, what's happening at the border. It's a humanitarian challenge to us," Pelosi said.

 

Earlier in the wall fight with Congress, some of Trump's fellow Republicans had warned him that declaring a national emergency could set a dangerous precedent, opening the door for a future Democratic president to circumvent Congress and declare emergencies on perhaps climate change or healthcare insurance.

 

Pelosi said, "If the president can declare an emergency on something that he has created as an emergency - an illusion that he wants to convey - just think of what a president with different values can present to the American people." She specifically cited U.S. gun violence as an emergency.

 

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said, "I will pull out all the stops to stop this horrendous, bizarre idea. As people get a chance to sort through what the implications really are, we will have strong bipartisan support for opposing this. ... We are the appropriators, not the president."

 

Trump triggered a 35-day-long shutdown of about a quarter of the federal government with his December demand for $5.7 billion to help build a portion of the wall. He was widely blamed for the shutdown and agreed to end it without getting the wall money.

 

The legislation being acted upon on Thursday also funds the Justice Department, Commerce Department, State Department, Department of Agriculture, Internal Revenue Service and others, covering roughly 800,000 federal workers.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell and Roberta Rampton; Writing by Kevin Drawbaugh and James Oliphant; Editing by Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-15

If it is such an emergency that Trump can do an end run on Congress' constitutional power of the purse, then why can Trump wait more than two years after being elected, and promising action regarding the US/Mexican border, to declare this "emergency"?  Is the emergency really about his ego and his base?

 

If this is allowed, a slippery slope could set an unfortunate precedent.

 

I cannot imagine FDR waiting more than two years to take action after Pearl Harbor, a true national emergency.

Edited February 14, 20197 yr by helpisgood
added 2nd paragraph

"...The bipartisan legislation, passed by the Republican-led Senate on Thursday before going to the Democratic-led House of Representatives for final congressional approval, denied Trump the funds he had demanded for a border wall, one of his central 2016 campaign pledges..."

 

Trump, the "Great Negotiator", got spanked (Slap! Slap!). There is no other way to see this; Trump got out-maneuvered, out-negotiated and out-played; he is a pee-wee, minor-leaguer compared to the real Pros.

 

"...he will also take other executive action - including a national emergency - to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said..."

 

There is no 'National Emergency'; he is a weak, tiny, small-handed, little person. Anyone notice that there was no emergency when the Republicans controlled both the House and Senate? Anyone notice that there was no emergency when he ran? What has changed? Nothing. Nothing has changed, except the crying little baby has been refused and sent to bed crying. Wah! Wah! Sob! Sob!

 

I have said it before and (sadly) need to say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all.

 

 

Edited February 14, 20197 yr by Samui Bodoh

The pillock Trump has diminished the office of the president so much.

I doubt the same level of respect prior to Trumps term will ever be  achieved. 

I will never forget.

 

Pre Trump time, like before he arbitrarily converted the GOP to THE Trump party, I once heard my very intelligent, highly educated American nephew say in regards to President Obama, "you can't rule the country by 'executive fiat' " (this was said relative to many 'executive orders' signed by President Obama when he was up against "the party of no", aka Republicans, and thus had little choice).

Now look who has become the king of 'executive orders' including this massive planned order so that he can have HIS WALL and fulfill the rallying cry made to his supporters.

 

Humble pie anyone ?

 

But "no collusion". (we'll see)

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

plunge Trump into an extended court battle with lawmakers

The lawyers are having a field day with Trumps presidency. He is determined not to let truth get in the way of his opinion. I am reminded of this lovely observation; 

 Trump later continued his long-running war on observable reality..

Edited February 15, 20197 yr by Lungstib

1 hour ago, helpisgood said:

If it is such an emergency that Trump can do an end run on Congress' constitutional power of the purse, then why can Trump wait more than two years after being elected, and promising action regarding the US/Mexican border, to declare this "emergency"?  Is the emergency really about his ego and his base?

 

If this is allowed, a slippery slope could set an unfortunate precedent.

 

I cannot imagine FDR waiting more than two years to take action after Pearl Harbor, a true national emergency.

 

In my opinion Obama is a big part of setting the precedent of a president using executive orders. He was also the guy that made confirmations of judges need only a simple senate majority of 60 when he was trying to push judges onto the court back in the day. Because of this you now have 2 and likely to be three and perhaps even 4 conservatives on the SCOTUS appointed under Trump.

 

The dems back at the time were warned this could come back to haunt them and it did.  This is one of the reasons McConnell didn't;t take the nuclear option when Trump asked him to on the wall. McConnell new if someday they ever lose power that would mean they can not use a filibuster.

 

 

Edited February 15, 20197 yr by Cryingdick

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

In my opinion Obama is a big part of setting the precedent of a president using executive orders. He was also the guy that made confirmations of judges need only a simple senate majority of 60 when he was trying to push judges onto the court back in the day. Because of this you now have 2 and likely to be three and perhaps even 4 conservatives on the SCOTUS appointed under Trump.

 

The dems back at the time were warned this could come back to haunt them and it did. 

 

 

And of course the GOP hold no responsibility for their total refusal to negotiate.

 

That, off topic distraction asside, if the President declares a state of emergency it will hasten the end of his Presidency.

 

And.... you are not getting your wall.

7 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

In my opinion Obama is a big part of setting the precedent of a president using executive orders. He was also the guy that made confirmations of judges need only a simple senate majority of 60 when he was trying to push judges onto the court back in the day. Because of this you now have 2 and likely to be three and perhaps even 4 conservatives on the SCOTUS appointed under Trump.

 

The dems back at the time were warned this could come back to haunt them and it did. 

 

 

You have anything to say on the topic?

Go Trumpy ????

2 minutes ago, sgoodes said:

Go Trumpy ????

Don’t worry it’ll not be long now.

And why do you so confidently say that Chomper.

After all there was no collusion so that argument is out the window. What else do you have ??

Give him a shovel and let him continue to dig a hole for himself!  There is a recent report that 58 miles of Bollard fence and 32 miles of vehicle fence ( Normandy fence) was completed for the cost of 277 million.   If you say the the Normandy fence was free and apply the 277 million to the bollard fence that comes out to $909/foot.  He has already said that the great concrete wall is not what the border patrol wants.  He should now say that he agrees with them and even if the cost per foot is elevated to 1000/foot the 1.375 billion  pays for 260 miles of fence, more than what he asked for, and is a win for him.  Continuing to use the $4700/foot for the great concrete wall is ridiculous. It's just simple math! As Tillerson said he is and idiot, followed by Mathis's remarks about him being a moron followed by Kim's comment that he is a Dotard!

Donald wants to be a dictator soooo baddd lol don’t think your attempted end run around congress is going to work if you are so worryed about national security stop attacking the very institutions that protect us you dotard

trump is like a man playing poker who has ace high as his hand, whilst his opponent has a full house. 

 

All the other players know he has ace high and he knows he is up against a full house. 

 

He knows he can’t win, everyone else knows he can’t win, yet he won’t accept the fact.

 

His ego won’t let him. 

 

He keeps raising the stakes, he bets all he has, his savings, his property, his kids college fund, his pension in the hope his opponent will back down. 

 

He can’t accept the fact he has lost the game and continues to make more and more ridiculous bets on a lost cause. 

 

And he wonders why the other players view him with such utter disdain. 

1 hour ago, Cryingdick said:

 

In my opinion Obama is a big part of setting the precedent of a president using executive orders. He was also the guy that made confirmations of judges need only a simple senate majority of 60 when he was trying to push judges onto the court back in the day. Because of this you now have 2 and likely to be three and perhaps even 4 conservatives on the SCOTUS appointed under Trump.

 

The dems back at the time were warned this could come back to haunt them and it did.  This is one of the reasons McConnell didn't;t take the nuclear option when Trump asked him to on the wall. McConnell new if someday they ever lose power that would mean they can not use a filibuster.

 

 

That's right. 

People forget that Obama declared some 15 Emergency Declarations and there was never the wailing and knashing of teeth we see now 

6 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

That's right. 

People forget that Obama declared some 15 Emergency Declarations and there was never the wailing and knashing of teeth we see now 

Trump fans lieing again. 

44 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

That's right. 

People forget that Obama declared some 15 Emergency Declarations and there was never the wailing and knashing of teeth we see now 

Emergency declarations by Obama, Bush and Clinton were overwhelmingly for the purpose of addressing crises that emerged abroad. Many blocked foreign interests or terrorist-linked entities from access to funds. Some prohibited certain imports from or investments to countries associated with human rights abuses.

 

Link from AP.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Don’t worry it’ll not be long now.

No, no and no...

We who are not American do not want the Apprentice President show to end. It’s the best entertainment in the world. We are eagerly looking forward to the Democrats controlled House and Senate series which is promised to start airing in 2020. Jeez bro you Muricans can’t deprive us of seeing the then full fledged knuckle dragging child president in full meltdown....that sort of high value entertainment and p!ss taking is just not available elsewhere...    ???? 

1. schumer, pelosi as usual stating political crab.

 

2. statute 33 us code §2293, 10 us code §2808 give the president to have the wall built, stopping illegal criminals.

 

wbr

roobaa01

Meanwhile the rest of the world is laughing at those crazy Americans.

The rumor is that China has offered Trump their GREAT WALL as they don't need it any more. They suggested it's almost long enough to build a boarder around the whole of America. Lock up those crazy Americans!!

2 hours ago, sgoodes said:

And why do you so confidently say that Chomper.

After all there was no collusion so that argument is out the window. What else do you have ??

 

Great, 'Murica!

Good job!

I wonder, who could also get elected in "the greatest democracy on Earth"?!

A sock- puppet?

A sack of cement?

A toaster?

There's always a Tweet...

 

 

 

or a video... "I will never sign another bill like this again." OK, this one is ~ 1,100 pages that one was ~ 800 pages.

 

 

5 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

There's always a Tweet...

 

 

 

or a video... "I will never sign another bill like this again." OK, this one is ~ 1,100 pages that one was ~ 800 pages.

 

 

4 hours ago, helpisgood said:

If it is such an emergency that Trump can do an end run on Congress' constitutional power of the purse, then why can Trump wait more than two years after being elected, and promising action regarding the US/Mexican border, to declare this "emergency"?  Is the emergency really about his ego and his base?

 

If this is allowed, a slippery slope could set an unfortunate precedent.

 

I cannot imagine FDR waiting more than two years to take action after Pearl Harbor, a true national emergency.

FDR didn't have hordes of illegal, underclass caravans trying to invade the country. Trump WILL build the wall, with or without help.

1 hour ago, pokerface1 said:

Meanwhile the rest of the world is laughing at those crazy Americans.

The rumor is that China has offered Trump their GREAT WALL as they don't need it any more. They suggested it's almost long enough to build a boarder around the whole of America. Lock up those crazy Americans!!

Well, you Aussies have a "wall"! It's called an ocean.

1 hour ago, Roadman said:

No, no and no...

We who are not American do not want the Apprentice President show to end. It’s the best entertainment in the world. We are eagerly looking forward to the Democrats controlled House and Senate series which is promised to start airing in 2020. Jeez bro you Muricans can’t deprive us of seeing the then full fledged knuckle dragging child president in full meltdown....that sort of high value entertainment and p!ss taking is just not available elsewhere...    ???? 

Did you take your medication today?

15 minutes ago, howbri said:

FDR didn't have hordes of illegal, underclass caravans trying to invade the country.

 

Executive Order 9066

 

Korematsu v. United States

 

 

Already, Trump is in deep trouble. I seriously doubt he will even run in 2020. Either health issues, a lack of interest (he obviously hates the job, and Melania hates it even worse), his declining business interests (his name is becoming untouchable, no new deal in two years, due to his name becoming radioactive, the loss of 17 out of 19 merchandising deals to date), and the criminal investigations. 17 and counting, not including the congressional investigations. They are real, and the witch is not being hunted. He is being asked to account for his felonious past. 

 

Using emergency powers will backfire on him. It will be his undoing. I am kind of hoping it happens. Watching this neophyte repeatedly shoot himself in the foot is kind of amusing. 

Edited February 15, 20197 yr by spidermike007