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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 5 March 2019

McConnell: Enough Senate votes

to reject Trump’s wall move

enough votes in the Repub- which will then be vetoed that he not take this route,”
lican-led Senate to prevail by the president and then, McConnell said.
on a resolution aimed at in all likelihood, the veto will Many lawmakers opposed
blocking the move. be upheld in the House,” to the emergency decla-
McConnell, who fell in line McConnell told reporters. ration say it tramples Con-
behind Trump despite his Besides Paul, other Repub- gress’ constitutional power
own misgivings about the lican senators who have to control spending. They
declaration, said Trump announced they’ll defy also are concerned Trump
will veto the resolution and Trump on the issue are Su- would siphon money from
that it’s likely to be sus- san Collins of Maine, Lisa home-state projects to bar-
tained in Congress. McCo- Murkowski of Alaska and rier construction.
nnell’s remarks in his home Thom Tillis of North Carolina. McConnell didn’t com-
state came after fellow With those four, and assum- ment Monday on Paul’s
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul ing that all 47 Democrats position on the declaration.
In this Feb. 26, 2019 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch became the latest GOP and their independent al- At a GOP dinner this past
McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in lawmaker to say he can’t lies go against Trump, that weekend in Kentucky, Paul
Washington. go along with the White would give opponents 51 said: “I can’t vote to give
Associated Press House on the emergency votes — just past the major- the president the power to
By BRUCE SCHREINER Monday that opponents of declaration. ity needed. spend money that hasn’t
Associated Press President Donald Trump’s “I think what is clear in Paul told reporters Monday been appropriated by
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Sen- declaration of a nation- the Senate is there will be that based on conversa- Congress.
ate Majority Leader Mitch al emergency along the enough votes to pass the tions with colleagues, there “We may want more mon-
McConnell acknowledged U.S.-Mexico border have resolution of disapproval, are “at least 10” GOP sena- ey for border security, but
tors prepared to vote to nul- Congress didn’t authorize
lify Trump’s move. The vote it. If we take away those
is expected next week. checks and balances, it’s
The Democratic-led House a dangerous thing,” Paul
recently voted to upend added, according to the
Trump’s declaration, which Bowling Green (Ky.) Daily
he declared to circumvent News.
Congress and funnel billions Under the declaration,
of extra dollars to erecting Trump would divert $3.6 bil-
his proposed border wall. lion from military construc-
Asked Monday if the Sen- tion to erect more border
ate can try to amend the barriers. He’s invoking other
resolution, McConnell said powers to transfer an ad-
senators have been con- ditional $3.1 billion to con-
sulting with the parliamen- struction. Lawsuits have
tarian about “what options been filed aimed at derail-
there are, if any.” ing the declaration, which
McConnell, who has could at least prevent
worked closely with Trump Trump from getting the ex-
on the tax system overhaul, tra money for months or
the selection of conserva- more.
tive judges and other is- Other lawmakers includ-
sues, acknowledged he ing Sen. Lamar Alexander,
had counseled the presi- R-Tenn., have been try-
dent against making the ing to persuade Trump to
declaration. The Senate abandon the emergency
leader said he’s worried declaration and draw the
that Trump’s move would money from other budget
set a precedent for future accounts that he has the
Democratic presidents to power to tap.
make such a declaration Paul said he spoke to Trump
for their own purposes. Sunday night and detected
“That’s one reason I ar- no signs of backing down.
gued, obviously without “I think he’s made his deci-
success to the president, sion,” he told reporters.q