U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) joined Democrats in voting against President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to build the border wall and likened the president to King George III who was king of England during the American Revolution.
Alexander was one of 12 Republican senators to join Democrats in a 59-41 vote against the president, The Washington Examiner said. Trump said he would veto the measure. Last month, 13 Republicans joined Democrats in the House to vote against Trump’s declaration.
The Senate Republicans said Trump’s use of a declaration of a national emergency would open the doors for Democratic presidents to use the measure to push gun control or fight climate change.
In a series of tweets, Alexander defended his break with the president.
One tweet said, “I support the president on border security. I have urged him to build the 234 miles of border wall he has asked for in the fastest possible way by using $5.7 billion already approved by Congress.”
I support the president on border security. I have urged him to build the 234 miles of border wall he has asked for in the fastest possible way by using $5.7 billion already approved by Congress.
— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) March 14, 2019
Alexander said, “But his declaration to take an additional $3.6 billion that Congress has appropriated for military hospitals, barracks and schools is inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution that I swore an oath to support and defend.”
But his declaration to take an additional $3.6 billion that Congress has appropriated for military hospitals, barracks and schools is inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution that I swore an oath to support and defend.
— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) March 14, 2019
Another tweet said, “Never before has a president asked for funding, Congress has not provided it, and the president then has used the National Emergencies Act of 1976 to spend the money anyway.”
Never before has a president asked for funding, Congress has not provided it, and the president then has used the National Emergencies Act of 1976 to spend the money anyway.
— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) March 14, 2019
Then, Alexander compared Trump to King George III: “The problem with this is that after a Revolutionary War against a king, our nation’s founders gave to Congress the power to approve all spending so that the president would not have too much power. This check on the executive is a crucial source of our freedom.”
The problem with this is that after a Revolutionary War against a king, our nation’s founders gave to Congress the power to approve all spending so that the president would not have too much power. This check on the executive is a crucial source of our freedom.
— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) March 14, 2019
Alexander’s colleague, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who voted for Trump’s declaration, dismissed claims that Democratic presidents would gain greater powers with the emergency declarations.
“The National Emergencies Act has been used seventeen times by President Bill Clinton, twelve times by President George W. Bush, thirteen times by President Barack Obama, and three times by President Trump,” Blackburn said in a press release.
Blackburn tweeted her response here.
I'm voting no today. My statement: https://t.co/GGzbpX8OjQ pic.twitter.com/XIbkywSipe
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) March 14, 2019
Blackburn said, “Since Congress gave emergency powers to the executive branch in 1976 under the National Emergencies Act, presidents from both political parties have declared national emergencies in the United States over situations far less dire than the security and humanitarian crisis that is currently plaguing the southern border. The President and Congress must take swift action to secure our border, protect our citizens, and defend our sovereignty. I support President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and I reject the resolution of disapproval.”
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
He wont be getting my vote when he is up for re election. i cant stand the guy anyway! #BUILDTHEWALL
In case you haven’t noticed, he is not seeking re-election, instead he is retiring at the end of this term. Perhaps we can elect a true conservative to the “open seat.” But, of the two who have declared as Republicans, one is a former Ambassador to Japan and a former finance guy for Mitt Romney (this is Trump’s hand-picked choice); and the other is a Nashville Doctor. Neither has held public office before, and therefore we have little upon which to form an opinion as to whether either of them is a “true” conservative.