RI delegation reacts to national emergency declaration

February 15, 2019 4:18 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Another government shut down will be avoided. The President announcing from the Rose Garden today he will be signing the spending bill. But at the same time, he’s doubling down on his efforts for a border wall, declaring a national emergency.

It’s a move expected to cause a drawn out legal war.

Everyone can agree that avoiding another government shut down is a good thing. But the Rhode Island delegation is making it clear they don’t think there’s any emergency at our southern border.

From the Rose Garden, President Trump declared a national emergency to build his border wall.

“It’s a great thing to do because we have an invasion of drugs, invasion of gangs, invasion of people and it’s unacceptable,” says President Trump.

The Rhode Island congressional delegation left wondering, what emergency?

“What emergency can you wait two months to declare,” says Senator Jack Reed.

Congressman David Cicilline agrees. He’s visited the Mexico border several times and says people there are fleeing violence and illegal drugs smuggled into our country are coming from legal ports of entry.

The president’s announcement comes on the heels of the passage of a bipartisan spending bill avoiding another government shutdown.

“He should do what presidents commonly do which is take the money that’s been appropriated on a bipartisan basis by the congress, a strong bipartisan basis, and apply it to border security,” says Senator Reed.

Instead some military funds will be diverted to help pay for the wall. That’s something Congressman Langevin says jeopardizes our national security.

President Trump says he’s not doing this because it was a campaign promise but some see it differently.

“All of it to go ahead and pursue a campaign promise which was not really a program but just a slogan. He is disrupting the government, raising constitutional issues, all for a political gimmick,” says Reed.

Our congressional delegates say they anticipate congress will challenge Trump’s move, the president admitting he’ll be sued but is confident he’ll win.