NASHVILLE — U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, voted Wednesday to end President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration on the U.S.-Mexico border which the president is using to shift $3.6 billion from military construction projects to his proposed border wall.
While a 54-41 majority voted to terminate the emergency, the resolution failed to receive the necessary two thirds approval to prevent an expected presidential veto.
“My vote today was for the United States Constitution, not against the border wall,” said Alexander, one of 11 Republicans voting with Democrats on the resolution, in a statement.
Noting that after he cast a similar vote six months ago, Alexander said “the president could have spent $5.7 billion already approved by Congress to build the 234 miles of border wall he requested in January without invoking a national emergency.
“The U.S. Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to spend tax dollars,” Alexander added. “The first act of every senator is to swear an oath to support that constitution. I cannot support this national emergency declaration and be faithful to my oath to support the constitution at the same time.”
Other Tri-State area Republican senators — Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue of Georgia and Richard Shelby of Alabama — voted against the resolution. Voting yes was Democrat Doug Jones of Alabama.
Alexander said “never before has a president asked for funding, Congress not provided it, and the president then used the National Emergencies Act of 1976 to spend the money anyway.”
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1
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Citing U.S. Constitution, Alexander votes to end Trump’s declared border emergency declaration
