The U. S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, ignoring White House veto threats, moved toward passage of legislation to terminate President Donald Trump’s proclaimed national emergency at the U. S.-Mexico border, in what would be a stinging rejection of his proposed wall there.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U. S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, ignoring White House veto threats, moved toward passage of legislation to terminate President Donald Trump’s proclaimed national emergency at the U. S.-Mexico border, in what would be a stinging rejection of his proposed wall there.
By a vote of 229-193, the House agreed to move to final debate and a vote later on Tuesday on passing the resolution. Passage, which is expected, would set up a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate where the resolution’s chances were slimmer, but seemed to be improving.
Republican Senator John Barrasso, a member of the Senate’s leadership, told MSNBC in an interview that the legislation “may actually pass the Senate.”
Following a closed meeting of Republican senators and Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to predict the outcome, including whether senators ultimately could override a Trump veto.
McConnell said Republican senators and Pence held a “robust, vigorous discussion” and that he had not “reached a total conclusion” over whether Trump’s emergency proclamation was legal.
Meanwhile, the White House formally notified Congress, as expected, that if the measure passes Congress, Trump’s advisers would recommend that he veto it in order to maintain the power he activated on Feb. 15 as a way of circumventing Congress.
