Trump may be able to squeeze $13.3 billion from the Pentagon's budget in order to pay for wall

[Miles Archer]

Trump may try to pay for the wall by plundering billions meant for housing America’s troops



https://www.rawstory.com/2019/01/trump-may-try-pay-wall-plundering-billions-meant-housing-americas-troops-report/

One congressional aide tells the Wall Street Journal that Trump may be able to squeeze $13.3 billion from the Pentagon’s budget in order to pay for wall construction even though that money had been allocated for “projects such as military housing that Congress previously authorized.”

However, Trump’s emergency order redirecting congressional funds for the wall is likely to be immediately challenged in court, as the Constitution explicitly states that Congress — not the president — has power to decide how taxpayer money is spent.

According to the Journal’s analysis, “one federal law states that when there is a declaration of war or a national emergency requiring the armed forces to respond, the secretary of defense can ‘undertake military construction projects… that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces’ from the Pentagon construction budget” without congressional approval.

However, opponents of the president’s actions would likely challenge the entire basis of the president’s “emergency” declaration by arguing that illegal border crossings are not anywhere close to historically high, and the president never thought to declare a national emergency during his first two years in office, even though the situation at the border as stayed largely the same during that time.

[RockRaven]

1. Also, if he's gonna claim authority to shift money around, what's the f-ing shutdown for?

there's no point to it, if he can just get the money this other way.

Pick a goddamned argument and stick to it, Dough Turd!

[dalton99a]

2. +1

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. And until we have a UNIFIED opposition, where we ALL agree to AGGRESIVELY support

ANYBODY with a D after their name, why do we pretend we care what this nazi traitor does?

Anybody answer that for me?

[Iliyah]

4. He going to take away their food stamps too.

[klook]

5. Funny how something the Republicans couldn't get done when they controlled all 3 branches of govt.

for 2 years is suddenly a “national emergency” now that the Democrats in the House have subpoena power. I know I’m not the first to point this out, but it boggles the rational mind.

The Deplorables’ ability to believe any bullshit Dear Leader spews is truly bizarre and frightening. Talk about willing suspension of disbelief!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. +1

Exactly. He had Ryan and McConnell doing his bidding for the last 2 years and they constantly ignored Democrats. Why didn't this happen then?

[Tech]

6. No wall

Do not want it. And the cost to maintain it? We can't maintain bridges and roads now. And how do the rw ranchers along the border feel. No wall.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. I thought that he said that he just needed 5 billion?

[NCjack]

9. The increase is "insult" money. The DEMs hurt his feelings. nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. Oh

[beachbum bob]

11. In defiance of congress and is impeachable. Presidents simply can not

Re-appropriate...self declaring an emergency will not work.