Pliable GOP May Help WH Snatch Victory From Jaws Of Defeat On Nat’l Emergency

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 25: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks with reporters outside the Senate chamber about a continuing resolution to re-open the government on Friday, January 25, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 25: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks with reporters outside the Senate chamber about a continuing resolution to re-open the government on Friday, January 25, 2019. (Photo B... UNITED STATES - JANUARY 25: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks with reporters outside the Senate chamber about a continuing resolution to re-open the government on Friday, January 25, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) MORE LESS
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The White House is making some headway in the attempt to ward off congressional humiliation, as more and more Senate Republicans are being coaxed to get behind a new proposal related to the national emergency.

According to a Tuesday Washington Post report, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has drafted legislation that would put reins on the 1976 National Emergencies Act by limiting any President’s unilateral action to a 30-day period before requiring congressional approval. A growing number of Senate Republicans seem to be gravitating towards supporting Lee’s legislation and the national emergency.

The White House is reportedly not all in on Lee’s proposal, and has floated ideas like making the 30 days 30 legislative days, which would significantly lengthen the window. But for now, President Donald Trump and his aides are more desperate to avoid the mortification that would come with a resounding defeat in both houses.

“They’re being beaten up right now, so if you see anybody that’s got blood dripping out of their ear, they may be changing,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told the Post of his still-undecided Republican colleagues. “There’s still a significant number, but there’s a lot of people being bruised and bullied.”

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  1. “They’re being beaten up right now, so if you see anybody that’s got blood dripping out of their ear, they may be changing,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told the Post of his still-undecided Republican colleagues. “There’s still a significant number, but there’s a lot of people being bruised and bullied.”

    Because, this is what you do when your policies and ideas suck.

    And when you’re a wanna-be authoritarian.

  2. Avatar for sfaw sfaw says:

    Meanwhile, ferret-head will vote to give the Traitor-in-Chief what he wants, I expect.

  3. I’m a little confused. If they pass the 30 day limit bill, I imagine it lets them save face for a while, but I still don’t expect they’ll have the votes to actually approve of Trump’s emergency. Definitely not in the house.

    I also suppose that Congress simply letting the deadline pass without approval might be better for Trump’s standing in court rather than a bill that unequivocally states Congress’ disapproval.

  4. According to a Tuesday Washington Post report, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has drafted legislation that would put reins on the 1976 National Emergencies Act by limiting any President’s unilateral action to a 30-day period before requiring congressional approval. A growing number of Senate Republicans seem to be gravitating towards supporting Lee’s legislation and the national emergency.

    any = future Democratic POTUS.

    In terms of the present, I still don’t see how that would work in the favor of the 4 vulnerable Rethug senators up for re-election next year. It doesn’t buy them any cover.

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