Pelosi asks that Trump postpone address
WASHINGTON — A grand Washington ritual became a potential casualty of the partial government shutdown Wednesday as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked President Donald Trump to postpone his Jan. 29 State of the Union speech. She cited concerns about whether the hobbled government can provide adequate security, but Republicans cast her move as a ploy to deny Trump the stage.
In a letter to Trump, Pelosi said that with both the Secret Service and the Homeland Security Department entangled in the shutdown, the president should speak to Congress another time or he should deliver the address in writing. But Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen denied anyone’s safety is compromised, saying both agencies “are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union.”
The White House had yet to offer any official response hours later. But GOP allies accused Pelosi of playing politics.”
“This seems like an excuse from the speaker to keep the president from making his case for border security to the American people during a State of the Union speech,” said Rep. Steve Stivers, R– Upper Arlington.
Pelosi, who issued the customary invitation to Trump weeks ago, left unclear what would happen if Trump insisted on coming. It takes a joint resolution of the House and Congress to extend the official invitation and set the stage. Pelosi
Donald Ritchie, former historian of the Senate, said that anytime a president comes to speak, it must be at the request of Congress. Trump could opt to deliver a speech somewhere else, like the Oval Office.
Some Ohio politicians suggested alternative sites.
Dallas Gerber, a spokesman for Rep. Bob Gibbs, R–lakeville, said “we would welcome the president to the 7th District if he wants to hold the State of the Union outside DC.”
Rep. Bill Johnson, R– Marietta, said “I will be calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell to invite President Trump to give his speech in the Senate chamber.”
“With all that is going on right now, the last thing we should do is cancel the State of the Union,” Johnson said.
A spokeswoman said Rep. Troy Balderson, R-zanesville, believes “it’s within the president’s purview to address a joint session of Congress” and that it’s authorized by the Constitution.
Actually, the Constitution mandates in Article II, Section 3 that presidents “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” But it offers no specifics on how that should be done. The practice of delivering an in-person address before a joint session of Congress has not always been the norm.
Among Ohio Democrats, the reaction to Pelosi’s announcement was mixed. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D– Jefferson Township, said she backs Pelosi’s decision.
“All of us already know the State of the Union — it’s shut down,” she said.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-ohio, said “President Trump should end his shutdown and get people back to work immediately today — well before the State of the Union.”
At the White House, Trump met a bipartisan group of lawmakers, as well as a group of Republican senators, but progress appeared elusive.
Trump did sign legislation affirming that the roughly 800,000 federal workers who have been going without pay will ultimately be compensated for their lost wages.
The House on Wednesday passed a Democratic measure to reopen the government through Feb. 8 and provide $14 billion in emergency spending for recent hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters.
The bill was approved 237187, mostly along party lines, but appears dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled Senate.