The Senate again Voted on Wednesday to End President Trump’s Emergency Declaration on the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall, paving the way for a Veto Showdown with the White House. Senators Voted 54-41 on a Resolution to End the Declaration, which Trump used to Shift Billions of Dollars from the Military toward Wall Construction.
Under the National Emergencies Act, a Resolution Ending the Declaration needed Only a Simple Majority to Clear the Senate, making it likely to be Approved. But Underscoring the Broad Swath of Concern about Trump’s Actions among the Senate GOP Caucus, 11 Republican Senators Voted to Nix the Declaration. GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander (TN), Roy Blunt (MO), Susan Collins (ME), Mike Lee (UT), Jerry Moran (KS), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rand Paul (KY), Rob Portman (OH), Mitt Romney (UT), Pat Toomey (PA), and Roger Wicker (MS) Voted to End the President's Declaration.
The Vote marks another Setback from Trump in the midst of a Chaotic Week on Capitol Hill. The White House is Locked in a burgeoning Impeachment Battle with Democrats and Lawmakers still need to Fund the Government before Monday to Prevent the Second Shutdown of the year.
Democrats have seized on the Administration’s Decision to Shift Money away from Military Construction Projects as a way to Politically Box in Republicans by Forcing them to Decide between Breaking with Trump or Voting to allow Money to be Shifted Away from Projects in their own States.
“The vote today is the surest and likely the only way to restore funding the president has stolen from our troops and military projects across the country,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) said ahead of the Vote.
He added that if Republicans Voted to Uphold Trump’s use of his Emergency Powers they would be Setting "a dangerous precedent that could embolden not just this president but future presidents to ignore congressional authority.”
Trump’s Decision to Leapfrog Congress and Declare a National Emergency came after Lawmakers Passed a Government Funding Bill that included $1.375 Billion for Border Barriers. But the Decision has become a Perennial Headache for the GOP. Under the National Emergencies Act, Democrats can force a Vote on Ending Trump’s Emergency Declaration every Six Months. The Senate previously Voted to End it in February, with 12 Republicans Voting with Democrats, but the House was Unable to Override a Veto.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
