House Democrats are set to vote on a resolution Tuesday to block President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration which will enable him to build his long-promised wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Rep. Chris Stewart said Tuesday morning he does not plan to vote for the Democratic-led proposal.
“It’s become clear to me the president has the authority. What I wonder is if it’s a good idea,” said Stewart on CNN.
President Trump declared a national emergency earlier this month when Congress refused to allocate $5.7 billion for construction of the wall along the Southern Border. Trump repeatedly promised during the 2016 presidential race that Mexico would pay for construction of the wall.
Democrats contend the declaration is unconstitutional and are using a provision from the National Emergency Act to block the president.
Stewart says he cannot support the resolution the way it is currently written.
“It’s written in such a way that isn’t true,” he said. “It says there is no emergency on the border, and I disagree. It says the president doesn’t have the authority. He does have the authority. I just wish he didn’t have the authority to do this.”
If, as expected, the provision is passed by the Democratic-controlled House, it will require an up or down vote in the Senate within 18 days where it will take a simple majority to pass, setting up a possible veto by President Trump. So far, three Republican senators have indicated they will vote for the resolution, meaning if one more GOP senator breaks with the president, it will pass.
Watch the clip below via CNN.
