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U.S. NEWS Saturday 23 February 2019

Trump vows veto as Dems try to block emergency order

Continued from Front federal asset forfeiture fund topic. Trump’s GOP al-
and Defense Department lies promised they would
Any Trump veto would anti-drug efforts first. uphold any veto denying
likely be sustained, but the Trump’s edict is also be- Democrats the two-thirds
upcoming battle will test ing challenged in the fed- votes required to over-
Republican support for the eral courts, where a host of come one.
president’s move, which Democratic-led states such “Democrats’ angst over
even some of his allies view as California are among Congress’ power of the
as a stretch — and a slap those that have sued to purse is unwarranted, es-
at lawmakers’ control over overturn Trump’s order. The pecially since the com-
the power of the federal House may also join in. mander in chief’s authority
purse. For Democrats, the vote is to redirect military funds for
Pelosi, D-Calif., said she’d another chance to chal- a national emergency is af-
honor her oath of office lenge Trump over funding firmed in a law passed by
and uphold the Constitu- for a border wall, the is- their own branch,” said top
tion, adding, “I wish he sue that was central to the House Judiciary Commit-
would have the same ded- 35-day government shut- tee Republican Doug Col- The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019.
ication to that oath of of- down. It also puts some lins of Georgia.q Associated Pres
fice himself.” Speaking to Republicans from swing
reporters in Laredo, Texas, districts and states in a dif-
she said, “This is a path I ficult spot, as many have
would not recommend he expressed misgivings about
go down. I don’t expect Trump’s action despite
him to sign it, but I do ex- their support for his border
pect us to send it” to him. security agenda.
House GOP leaders will Should the House and the
urge rank-and-file Repub- Senate initially approve the
licans on Monday to op- measure, Congress seems
pose the measure, Re- unlikely to muster the two-
publican aides said. If all thirds majorities in each
Democrats and at least 55 chamber that would be
Republicans vote for it, it needed later to override a
would pass by a veto-proof Trump veto.
margin — a two-thirds ma- Republicans who oppose
jority. The aides spoke on the emergency declara-
condition of anonymity to tion on the first vote might
describe leaders’ plans. switch and rally behind a
“What the president is at- Trump veto. But an initial
tempting is an unconstitu- roll call with strong numbers
tional power grab,” said of Republicans defying him
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D- would be an embarrassing
Texas, the sponsor of the show of GOP rifts.
resolution, on a call with re- The measure to block
porters. “There is no emer- Trump’s edict will be close-
gency at the border.” ly watched in the Senate,
Trump’s declaration of a where moderates such as
national emergency gives Susan Collins, R-Maine, and
him access to about $3.6 Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.,
billion in funding for military have signaled they would
construction projects to di- back it. Senate Majority
vert to border fencing. But Leader Mitch McConnell,
the administration is more R-Ky., is only a reluctant
likely to tap funding from a supporter of Trump on the