Democrats may have votes to block Trump's border emergency in U.S. Senate

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S., March 2, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul said he would vote in favour of a resolution to end President Donald Trump's U.S.-Mexico border emergency declaration, according to a media report, likely giving Democrats the votes to pass the measure in the Senate.

 

Trump, who has promised to issue his first veto if the Senate approves the resolution, declared an emergency last month in a bid to fund a wall along the border without congressional approval.

 

While the Senate appears unlikely to muster the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto, passage in the Republican-controlled chamber would be an embarrassment for the president, who has failed over more than two years in office to persuade Congress to fund his wall, a central promise of his presidential campaign.

 

"I can’t vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress," Paul said in a speech on Saturday at Western Kentucky University, according to the Bowling Green Daily News.

 

"We may want more money for border security, but Congress didn't authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, it's a dangerous thing," he added.

 

Paul's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

 

Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in funding for his "great, great wall" triggered the longest-ever partial U.S. government shutdown in December and January. The government reopened but Trump later declared a national emergency in an effort to obtain funds Congress had approved for other purposes.

 

Rand became the fourth Republican senator to publicly back the resolution. Assuming all Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them vote in favour of the resolution, it would clear the Senate and end up on the president's desk. Republicans hold 53 of the 100 Senate seats.

 

An identical version of the measure has already been approved in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

 

Democrats argue there is no border emergency and that Trump is overreaching with his declaration given that the Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse strings.

 

The declaration is already being challenged in the courts.

 

Trump has warned Senate Republicans not to vote for the resolution, saying that doing so would put them in "great jeopardy" politically with voters.

 

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-04

Good for you let Donald veto if it comes to that more egg on his face then it will get tied up in court and never happen unless approved not dictated by donald

Pelosi has cornered the Republican Senators and Trump with Trump’s own wall.

 

Trump needs to feed his racist base, the Senators need to mind their far more moderate electorate (and not insignificantly protect the Constitution).

 

The perfect Republican Senator get-out is  “I want the President to get his wall but I must defend the Constitution”

 

Get used to hearing it.

 

Pelosi owns Trump.

I thought Trump declared an emergency because the checks and balances with congress wasn't working. 

May have, may have, may have. We hear that all the time, but when it comes down to it, they don't have.

It's all wishin' and hopin', IMO.

Don't forget they need the numbers in both the house and senate to stop a veto.

While the Dems are thinking up yet another scheme to do in Trump, who's passing laws to help the country? 

59 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

May have, may have, may have. We hear that all the time, but when it comes down to it, they don't have.

It's all wishin' and hopin', IMO.

Don't forget they need the numbers in both the house and senate to stop a veto.

While the Dems are thinking up yet another scheme to do in Trump, who's passing laws to help the country? 

Except he is not really passing laws is he? 

The lower house of The Congress has, as a result of the recent elections, a mandate to oppose many of his schemes. They also have a right to ask questions about some of the murkier aspects of his financing, and campaigning, for the presidency - embarrassing  and pertinent questions given that the divisions between Mr Trump's finances and activities, personal, corporate and political, are somewhat unclear. His links with foreign political entities are also somewhat opaque to say the least, and sparking interest. As a result of this, and his inability to compromise, negotiate or empathise with anyone other than his immediate voting base, he is instead calling a National Emergency, in the face of all statistical and other evidence, in an attempt to get his own way, and deflect this attention. Hardly passing laws, or governing wisely to help his country!

Seems like they do now, Handy Randy Paul said he's voting to block. But then he's a famous flip-flopper, always holding out to get some extra goodies.

 

Rand Paul Says He'll Vote Against Trump's Border Emergency, Likely Forcing A Veto

 

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/03/699835862/rand-paul-says-hell-vote-against-trump-s-border-emergency-likely-forcing-a-veto

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

May have, may have, may have. We hear that all the time, but when it comes down to it, they don't have.

It's all wishin' and hopin', IMO.

Don't forget they need the numbers in both the house and senate to stop a veto.

While the Dems are thinking up yet another scheme to do in Trump, who's passing laws to help the country? 

Blocking Trump is helping the country.........to get it's self respect back.

He will Veto and we will get our wall.

6 hours ago, jimmyyy said:

He will Veto and we will get our wall.

our wall ? which bit will you own and why ? Better people than Trump (aint hard) have shown that the wall is 1. costly 2. useless

12 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

He will Veto and we will get our wall.

 

I think you're missing a few steps in between Sherlock.

 

Meanwhile...

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

He will Veto and we will get our wall.

That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.  Don't let unscrupulous people use you for their own ends.

 

 

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

May have, may have, may have. We hear that all the time, but when it comes down to it, they don't have.

It's all wishin' and hopin', IMO.

Don't forget they need the numbers in both the house and senate to stop a veto.

While the Dems are thinking up yet another scheme to do in Trump, who's passing laws to help the country? 

Which makes me think, were there any laws passed to "help the country" in the 2 yrs prior to the 2018 midterm?

He will veto it and we will start construction.  He is going to win again in 2020 you folks are really out of touch with the american voter. 

2 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

He will veto it and we will start construction.  He is going to win again in 2020 you folks are really out of touch with the american voter. 

I believe you are a testament to the power and danger of internet algorithms. People who think the opposite of you also believe they've got their finger on the pulse of the American voter. Don't invite delusion into your life. Clean those cookies!

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

May have, may have, may have. We hear that all the time, but when it comes down to it, they don't have.

All the winning...

 

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

who's passing laws to help the country? 

Certainly not the incompetent man on top. 

3 hours ago, jimmyyy said:

He will Veto and we will get our wall.

But you won't get Mexico to pay for it - which is what your 'big cheese' promised! Anybody with half a brain would realise that Mexico was NOT going to pay. He was a liar to "my fellow Americans" and this is not the only time! 

3 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Blocking Trump is helping the country.........to get it's self respect back.

America lost all respect prior to Trump.  He is trying to regain it.  All the Trump blocking is out of spite.

Trump on brink of GOP rebellion over emergency declaration

 

President Trump is facing a potential revolt among Senate Republicans over his decision to declare a national emergency to construct the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

 

Alexander said Trump should find a way to let Republicans “who want to support him on border security be able to do that” while also “keeping our oath to the Constitution.”

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/432405-trump-on-brink-of-gop-rebellion-over-emergency-declaration

20 hours ago, JAG said:

Except he is not really passing laws is he? 

The lower house of The Congress has, as a result of the recent elections, a mandate to oppose many of his schemes. They also have a right to ask questions about some of the murkier aspects of his financing, and campaigning, for the presidency - embarrassing  and pertinent questions given that the divisions between Mr Trump's finances and activities, personal, corporate and political, are somewhat unclear. His links with foreign political entities are also somewhat opaque to say the least, and sparking interest. As a result of this, and his inability to compromise, negotiate or empathise with anyone other than his immediate voting base, he is instead calling a National Emergency, in the face of all statistical and other evidence, in an attempt to get his own way, and deflect this attention. Hardly passing laws, or governing wisely to help his country!

Congress is supposed to make the laws, and the president approves or vetoes them. I don't understand how it became the presidents job to run the country, and it should stop.

The best presidents are figureheads, like the Irish president, who has no power.

 

19 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

All the winning...

 

Certainly not the incompetent man on top. 

That's not his job. Congress is supposed to make the laws.

16 hours ago, lvr181 said:

But you won't get Mexico to pay for it - which is what your 'big cheese' promised! Anybody with half a brain would realise that Mexico was NOT going to pay. He was a liar to "my fellow Americans" and this is not the only time! 

He's still got 6 years to make Mexico pay for it. Have patience.

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He's still got 6 years to make Mexico pay for it. Have patience.

 

So get the money from Mexico THEN build the wall.

 

Cart/horse.

 

I don't remember "Have Patience" being part of the chant?

 

 

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc7h6WOOh7M

 

Edited March 5, 20197 yr by mtls2005

3 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

So get the money from Mexico THEN build the wall.

 

Cart/horse.

 

 

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc7h6WOOh7M

 

Huh! the wall is to stop the illegals and the drugs etc. What would be the point of waiting several years before building it if thousands of illegals and millions of dollars of drugs etc came over in the meantime?

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Huh! the wall is to stop the illegals and the drugs etc. What would be the point of waiting several years before building it if thousands of illegals and millions of dollars of drugs etc came over in the meantime?

 

You do realize that, even with Mexican funding, a construction project of this magnitude will take 10 ~ 15 years to complete, assuming the government can steal snatch all the land from private citizens via eminent domain?

 

Or did you think it could be erected in six days?

 

Will a wall stop "etc."?

 

What is "etc." anyway?

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Congress is supposed to make the laws, and the president approves or vetoes them. I don't understand how it became the presidents job to run the country, and it should stop.

The best presidents are figureheads, like the Irish president, who has no power.

 

I'm not an American, but it is my understanding that there are three parts to the Government of the USA: the judiciary, the legislative branch (Congress) and the executive (President and his Cabinet). They are supposed to be independent of each other, although obviously the executive and legislative branches should work together to make government happen.

 

The President is therefore more than a ceremonial figure, as in many European countries; more than the monarch in a constitutional monarchy.

 

When one of the trio overreaches him/her/itself, an upsets this balance. Key indicators of such an overreaching may be selecting judges based on their known political leanings rather than their judicial qualities, and attempting to arbitrarily override the decisions and deliberations of another part of the trio.

 

Ego and personal traits play a part in this, anyone who aspires to be The President will of course have both of these, lots of them. But sometimes...

Build the wall, build the wall.

 

Whos' gonna pay for it?  Mexico.

 

When are they gonna pay for it? Have patience.

 

All this idiocy to fulfill what was basically a memory aid to remind the simpleton candidate to talk about scary immigrants. I'd submit upping his dose of Aderral might have accomplished the same result, with a lot less fuss?

 

 

Where The Idea For Donald Trump's Wall Came From

 

In 2014, Trump’s plan to run for president moved into high gear. His political confidant was consultant Roger Stone. “Inside Trump’s circle, the power of illegal immigration to manipulate popular sentiment was readily apparent, and his advisers brainstormed methods for keeping their attention-addled boss on message,” writes Joshua Green, author of Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Nationalist Uprising. “They needed a trick, a mnemonic device. In the summer of 2014, they found one that clicked.”

 

Joshua Green had good access to Trump insiders, including Sam Nunberg, who worked with Stone. “Roger Stone and I came up with the idea of ‘the Wall,’ and we talked to Steve [Bannon] about it,” according to Nunberg. “It was to make sure he [Trump] talked about immigration.”

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/01/04/where-the-idea-for-donald-trumps-wall-came-from/#691eea304415

 

 

14 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Huh! the wall is to stop the illegals and the drugs etc. What would be the point of waiting several years before building it if thousands of illegals and millions of dollars of drugs etc came over in the meantime?

"Millions of dollars of drugs" BECAUSE Americans want them! Why don't you learn to "treat" the cause and not just the symptoms? The drugs will still arrive from somewhere even with a wall.

18 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

You do realize that, even with Mexican funding, a construction project of this magnitude will take 10 ~ 15 years to complete, assuming the government can steal snatch all the land from private citizens via eminent domain?

 

Or did you think it could be erected in six days?

 

Will a wall stop "etc."?

 

What is "etc." anyway?

 

 

 

 

So, better started ASAP.

16 hours ago, JAG said:

I'm not an American, but it is my understanding that there are three parts to the Government of the USA: the judiciary, the legislative branch (Congress) and the executive (President and his Cabinet). They are supposed to be independent of each other, although obviously the executive and legislative branches should work together to make government happen.

 

The President is therefore more than a ceremonial figure, as in many European countries; more than the monarch in a constitutional monarchy.

 

When one of the trio overreaches him/her/itself, an upsets this balance. Key indicators of such an overreaching may be selecting judges based on their known political leanings rather than their judicial qualities, and attempting to arbitrarily override the decisions and deliberations of another part of the trio.

 

Ego and personal traits play a part in this, anyone who aspires to be The President will of course have both of these, lots of them. But sometimes...

Indeed a president may aspire to place judges of his choosing in SCOTUS, but it takes the Senate to agree, so Trump and the Senate both agreed on his recent choices.

I agree that the US president is more than ceremonial, and the Americans would do well to pass a constitutional amendment to make the president merely ceremonial as with Ireland.