Trump to sign border bill but vows emergency declaration to get wall
  • 5 years ago
U.S. President Donald Trump will sign a border security and federal spending bill to avoid another government shutdown.... but he's also going to declare a national emergency to try to obtain funds for his U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Ro Aram has more.

The bipartisan legislation was passed by the Senate on Thursday before going to the Democratic-led House of Representatives for final congressional approval.
It includes 1.4 billion dollars in funding for border security, denying Trump the near six billion dollars he had demanded for his wall.
To get the necessary funding, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that the president would be declaring a national emergency to stop what she called a humanitarian crisis at the border.
That means Trump would be bypassing Congress by using military funds.
Trump had warned of such a move, but some Republicans argued it would only set a dangerous precedent.
However, GOP leader Mitch McConnell indicated his support for the move, reversing his earlier stance.
Unsurprisingly, Democrats reacted angrily to the announcement
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement accusing Trump of committing a "gross abuse of power" and a "lawless act."
Pelosi has also suggested taking legal action should the president make an emergency declaration.

"Did I say I was filing a legal challenge? I may. That's an option and we'll review our options, but it's important to note that when the president declares an emergency first of all it's not an emergency. What's happening at the border it's a humanitarian challenge to us. The president has tried to sell a bill of goods to the American people but putting that aside just in terms of the president making an end run around Congress."

Ro Aram, Arirang News.
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