National emergency plan splits GOP
McConnell supports president's decision, some Republicans don't
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans had been signaling for weeks that they hoped to avoid an emergency declaration by President Donald Trump to build a border wall. The move risked dividing the GOP, messy floor votes and a certain court challenge from Democrats.
When the time for a decision came Thursday, McConnell lined up behind Trump. “I indicated to him I'm going to support the national emergency declaration,” McConnell, of Kentucky, said on the Senate floor.
On Jan. 29, the majority leader had told reporters, “I'm for whatever works, which means avoiding a shutdown and avoiding the president feeling he should declare a national emergency.”
The president plans to unilaterally shift nearly $7 billion in federal funds to construct physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a person familiar with his intentions. That's on top of the $1.375 billion for fencing contained in spending legislation passed Thursday by Congress, which Trump said he will sign.
McConnell's decision to support Trump's declaration surprised many of his colleagues, and some Republicans said they're worried Congress would be turning over its power to the president.
It's “a bad idea,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said. “It raises real constitutional questions.”
But others backed Trump and McConnell. “I stand firmly behind President Trump's decision to use executive powers to build the wall-barriers we desperately need,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally. Declaring a national emergency would allow Trump to shift billions allocated to other projects to the wall. In addition to lawsuits, that will trigger votes in the House and Senate on whether to disapprove the emergency declaration. Some Republicans, including Rubio, said they may support a legislative move to block Trump from using those funds.
If a majority in both chambers votes to disapprove, Trump could veto the disapproval resolution. The chances of a veto override, requiring two-thirds of each chamber, are remote, particularly with McConnell backing the president.
Many Republicans, including Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Mitt Romney of Utah, said they would wait and see what Trump does before deciding how to proceed. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said he's against a national emergency but wouldn't commit to voting to disapprove of one. “My view is this is better resolved through the legislative process,” he said.