CHECKS AND BALANCES

Sen. Rand Paul Will Block President Trump's National Emergency Declaration

Paul warned that moving money without Congressional appropriation poses a threat to checks and balances.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul reportedly voiced support of a resolution blocking President Trump’s use of a national emergency declaration to fund a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Paul, a Republican, said in a speech Saturday that he “can’t vote to give extra-Constitutional powers to the president.” “I can’t vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress,” Paul told attendees of the Southern Kentucky Lincoln Day Dinner. “We may want more money for border security, but Congress didn’t authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, it’s a dangerous thing,” the Bowling Green Daily News and Washington Post quoted Paul as saying. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, Susan Collins, of Maine, and Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, also stand in opposition to Trump’s national emergency measure. The Democrat-controlled House has passed the disapproval resolution. To pass the senate, there would just need to be a simple majority, which is likely with four dissenting Republicans, The Post said. Neither chamber of Congress would likely be able to reverse a possible Presidential veto, however.

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