U.S. House of Representatives
While announcing his “state of emergency” and going against the will of Congress, President Trump said that other occupants of his office, among them President Barack Obama, had preceded him in calling for national emergencies.
While it is true that Obama and others have declared state of emergencies, Trump has done something that none of them ever did – going against the will of Congress by reaching for monies that Congress approved for other purposes, making a power grab only because the legislative body did not approve of his wish to build a wall on the nation’s southern border.
Appalled at the president’s decision, Democrats in the House of Representatives recently introduced a resolution designed to void the president’s action. Expected to pass in the Democratic-controlled chamber, the resolution will then go to the Senate, which will have 18 days to vote up or down on the measure.
Given that the Senate is controlled by Republicans and most of them seem afraid to counter Trump, there is not much hope for a commonsense result.
Four Republican Senators will have to vote with Democrats for the House resolution to become successful. Yet, it is unlikely that four Republican Senators will step forward to stop Trump – who, if successful, will set an extremely dangerous precedent for our nation.
The Republican voices that once wailed at what they called “presidential abuse” by Obama now remain silent. It is as if they have closed their eyes and ears to what is taking place in their presence.
Their voices are silent even though recent polls have demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of Americans, including Republicans, are against the idea of a national emergency, just as they are against the president’s border wall.
In all fairness, there are some Republicans, such as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who realize that Trump is wrong and that the base of the Republican Party will continue to shrink if Trump remains unchallenged by other Republicans.
“I think there are a lot of Republicans that are concerned about the future and that want us to continue to be a bigger tent, and to reach a wider audience, and not be divisive,” Hogan said during a recent interview.
Perhaps if his fellow Republicans will not listen to their Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate they will listen to Hogan and help stop the bleeding. The nation will applaud them if they do!
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives. She also chairs the House committee on Science, Space and Technology.