Several Republican senators are mulling whether they should change the definition of national security to cramp President Donald Trump’s habit of imposing trade tariffs on U.S. allies, Politico reported.
Those senators reportedly think Trump has abused his authority on steel and aluminum tariffs and are discussing whether they should combat Trump’s justification of the new tariffs as a matter of national security.
Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee, including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), fear Trump is sabotaging his own economic gains and are pushing for legislation that would abate Trump’s ability to take action on trade. According to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Politico, those Republicans are looking at at least five different modifications that could be made to the law that controls national security tariffs.
“I’d like to kill ‘em,” Hatch reportedly said, referencing Trump’s tariffs.
Now that he’s retiring, Orrin has discovered a vestigial spine.
Shorter version
There’s a lot of money at stake here
Or they could actually do their jobs, too. My understanding is Trade and Commerce is the Congress’ purview, not Cheetolini.
My two cents.
If they finally find the courage to go against Trump on one issue and the sky does not fall perhaps they will muster enough strength to go against him on other issues thereby causing Humpty Dumpty to fall off the Wall.
Any change will have to be veto-proof, although Trump has yet to veto any legislation. This one might get his attention.
The “national security” exception is simple. Define it so that it applies only if we are at war. You remember “war,” don’t you? You know, when Congress “declares war” on another country, rather than just letting the President send tens of thousands of troops out to deal with one of his irritations?