Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is adding his name to the list of Republicans who will be voting in support of the House-backed resolution to restrict President Trump’s ability to declare a national emergency on the southern border.
Paul, who is a self-described constitutional libertarian, told a crowd of 200 at Western Kentucky University late Saturday night that he would be supporting the resolution should come to the Senate floor.
“I can’t vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress,” Paul said at the event. “We may want more money for border security, but Congress didn’t authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, it’s a dangerous thing.”
If the resolution clears the Senate floor, Trump will be forced to issue the first presidential veto in his entire presidency. Democrats appear to have sufficient support now to force Trump’s hand as Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Lisa Murkowsi, R-Alaska, have all publicly announced their support for the resolution.
Republicans have 53 seats in the upper chamber.
[Opinion: Why, in 100 words, Trump is wrong to declare a national emergency]
