Democrats move to block emergency declaration
WASHINGTON: Democrats in the US House of Representatives plan to introduce a resolution tomorrow to end President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration on border security, according to aides to its sponsor, Rep Joaquin Castro.
So far, 92 lawmakers have joined Castro in backing the legislation, which could advance within weeks to a debate by the full chamber, which is controlled by Democrats.
Trump declared a national emergency last week in order to take money Congress had appropriated for other activities and use it to build a wall on the USMexico border.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter yesterday to both Democratic and Republican members inviting them to cosponsor Castro’s resolution. She said the House ‘‘will move swiftly to pass this Bill’’.
Both the House and the Republicanled Senate could pass a resolution terminating the emergency by majority vote. However, any such measure would then go to Trump, who would probably veto it. Overriding the veto would require a twothirds vote in both chambers.
A coalition of 16 US states, led by California, sued Trump and top members of his administration on Tuesday to block his decision to declare the emergency, saying the declaration was a misuse of presidential power. — Reuters