Will our senators do the right thing and vote to override President Trump’s national emergency?
After signing a bipartisan government spending bill that included funds for border security, Trump wanted more for his wall, so he promptly issued a declaration of national emergency. This would allow him to access funds previously allocated to other spending priorities, and effectively bypass Congress. In a bipartisan effort to thwart Trump's money and power grab, the House passed a proclamation to terminate the national emergency. The Senate is set to vote on the proclamation in the next weeks. If the Senate also passes the resolution, Trump has resolutely stated he will veto, and the bill will go back to congress for a vote to override the veto.
Sadly, Rep. Ben McAdams was the only one of Utah's representatives to vote for the resolution to terminate. Representatives John Curtis, Rob Bishop and Chris Stewart each voted no. In their comments, each said that they are adamantly opposed to executive overreach, but they voted against the resolution that intends to stop it. Every time this gang gets an opportunity to display their hypocrisy, they are ever so proud to display it.
Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee will soon cast their votes on the resolution. The Constitution provides that the authority for government spending rests with
Congress, not the president. Will our Utah congressional delegation do the right thing for the right reason and join a bipartisan Congress, and take back their power of the purse?
Jim Sargent, Mill Creek
