Dem senator thinks Senate may be able to block emergency declaration

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) predicted Sunday that there are enough votes in the Senate to block President Trump’s national emergency declaration.

She acknowledged, however, that whether lawmakers have enough votes to override a veto from Trump is a “different story.” 

{mosads}“I think we do. Now whether we have enough for an override of veto, that’s a different story,” she said when asked on ABC’s “This Week” if there are enough Senate votes to block the declaration.

“But frankly I think there’s enough people in the Senate who are concerned that what he’s doing is robbing from the military and the [Defense Department] to go build his wall,” Duckworth continued. “That it’s really not the best way to fight the crisis that he’s talking about at the border.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth tells @martharaddatz she believes the Senate has enough votes for a joint resolution to terminate Pres. Trump’s national emergency declaration: “Now whether we have enough for an overriding veto, now that’s a different story.” https://t.co/nuOWVPDr7F pic.twitter.com/ph6guLKmpc

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 17, 2019

Congress can attempt to block Trump’s emergency declaration by passing a joint resolution of termination. Such a resolution is likely to pass in the House, where Democrats have control. 

The resolution would be privileged in the Senate, and could not be blocked by a filibuster.

Democrats have 47 seats in the Senate and would need to get four Republicans to vote with them for the measure to pass the chamber. In a 50-50 tie, Vice President Pence would cast the deciding vote against a resolution of disapproval. 

It’s unlikely the measure would get the two-thirds majority votes in the House or Senate to override a presidential veto. Trump has yet to issue a veto against legislation in his presidency, and the resolution could become the first to attract a veto.

Trump on Friday declared a national emergency at the southern border to circumvent lawmakers and spend about $8 billion on barriers along the border.

Democratic leadership in Congress quickly promised that they would oppose the declaration, including by introducing legislation to block it.