Houston Chronicle by Kevin Diaz Feb. 22, 2019
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the backdrop of a border bridge in Laredo on Friday to open her push to block President Trump's national emergency declaration, which Democrats say could re-direct nearly $520 million in military construction funds from Texas.
"The president's act is lawless and does violence to our Constitution, and therefore, to our democracy," Pelosi told reporters. "Not only is he disrespecting the legislative branch and the Constitution of the United States, he is dishonoring the office in which he serves."
Pelosi was joined by Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who helped negotiate a bipartisan $1.37 billion border funding deal that averted another partial government shutdown. Trump, however, has sought some $6 billion for new border barriers and has vowed to use emergency powers to circumvent Congress and siphon money from the Pentagon.
The Democratic-led House plans to vote Tuesday to pass legislation opposing Trump's move, which critics say is unconstitutional. The resolution, brought by San Antonio Democrat Joaquin Castro, would then force a vote within 18 days in the Senate, where some Republicans have signaled their support.
"This is a historic power grab, and it will require historic unity by members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, to counteract the president's parasitic movement," Castro, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told reporters in a conference call Friday.
Democrats have also argued that there is no "crisis" at the border, noting that border apprehensions have decreased from previous decades. A group of 16 states also filed suit to block the emergency declaration.
Trump said later Friday that he would veto any measure from Congress to block his emergency declaration.
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