(02-15-2019, 08:57 AM)robkelk Wrote: I'm rather hoping that the Republican Senators mean what they say in opposing this... and are willing to follow through with it.
Why? Because under Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, only Congress has the power to apportion monies for the Armed Forces. Such a blatant disregard for the Constitution's measures on the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches is IMHO grounds for impeachment.
Regrettably, the Constitution does allow for delegation of authorities granted to a branch of government, and over the last 40 years or so, Congress has granted lots of "emergency" powers to the President. Of course, they can vote that a state of emergency does not actually exist, but unfortunately due to later modifications to the laws and court interpretations they would have to pass that decision with a veto proof majority in both houses. Hopefully there are enough Republicans who realize that they do not want to try to live with the precedent this would set.