Sen. Rand Paul indicated Saturday night that he would join three other Republican senators in voting against President Donald Trump’s declaration of emergency to secure more funds for a border wall, likely forcing Trump to use his veto power for the first time if he wants the emergency declaration to stay in place.
“I can’t vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress,” Paul said at the Southern Kentucky Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday, as quoted by the Bowling Green Daily News.
“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.”
Paul’s vote against Trump’s declaration — combined with Democratic senators’ votes and the votes of Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), who’ve also said they’ll vote to defy the President — would constitute a 51-vote majority, and means the President will be forced to veto Congress’ move to reverse his declaration.
Trump has said he will veto the resolution, should it arrive on his desk. The House of Representatives, with 232 Democrats and 13 Republicans in favor, voted to advance a resolution against Trump’s emergency declaration on Tuesday. The Senate has yet to vote on the measure.
H/t Politico.
