House Democrats Will Vote To End Trump’s National Emergency Today

Democrats in the House of Representatives will today vote to end President Donald Trump’s national emergency. The resolution of disapproval should pass easily, and will then be sent to the Senate for a vote within 18 days. Trump has said he will veto it if it passes there.

Trump declared the emergency because of a ‘crisis’ at the southern border. The administration intends to use money from the military construction budget to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. Democrats have rejected the idea that there is a real crisis.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes the national emergency and she will guarantee that her representatives approve the resolution.

The fate of the national emergency will be decided in the Senate, where Republicans retain control. However, two GOP Senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have already indicated they may vote with the Democrats.

“I want to make sure that the resolution of disapproval is exactly what I think it is, because if it is as I understand it to be, I will likely be supporting the resolution to disapprove of the action,” Murkowski said. “When I say probably, I want to make sure that what in fact we are voting on when it comes to the Senate is what I believe it is. If it’s what I have seen right now, I will support the resolution to disapprove.”

Murkowski has broken ranks before, becoming the only Republican senator who decided to vote against the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. However, Murkowski did not vote on the day due to the absence of another GOP senator. Collins had also hinted at her opposition, but dramatically toed to the party line at the final moment.

Republicans control 53 Senate seats to the Democrats’ 45, and both independent senators, including Vermont’s Bernie Sanders, caucus with the Democrats. A simple majority is enough to pass the resolution, though more Republicans will have to peel off if it is to be successful.