House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters Friday that GOP lawmakers would not vote to block President Trump from using a national emergency declaration to divert federal funds for the construction of a southern border wall.
“I don’t think anyone questions his legal authority to declare a national emergency,” said McCarthy, R-Calif.
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Trump has threatened to issue an emergency declaration if Congress does not agree to provide billions of dollars for the wall.
Democrats oppose the wall and are likely to trigger a congressional vote to block him with a resolution of disapproval that requires only a simple majority to pass.
Trump would likely veto the measure. Congress can only override his veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, which seems highly unlikely in either the House or the Senate.
In the House, about 90 Republicans would have to join Democrats in a vote to block the president. McCarthy predicted it won’t happen.
“I don’t see any way that would get overridden, if it were vetoed, in any way shape or form,” he said.
[Also read: Congress close to a deal on border fencing, and Trump might take it]
