(at least) One more senator willing to respect the Constitution

PThe Trump resident drew contempt and Republican criticism when he declared a national emergency that he even admitted was not necessary. In the House, a handful of Republicans have joined their fellow Democrats to pass a bill that would reverse its state of national emergency. Now the bill goes to the Senate and it is time for lawmakers to finally stand up for the Constitution – even if it means voting against the Speaker.

Some Republican senators have already indicated that they will not defend the excessive and abusive position of Trump's executive power and that they will support the bill when a vote takes place. Good for them. Meaning. Thom Tills RC, Lisa Murkowski R-Alaska and Susan Collins R-Maine, are at the forefront of defending the separation of powers and control of funding by Congress.

This leaves the Senate divided between 50 and 50 if no other Republican decides that he is willing to openly oppose a false national emergency.

But confronting the president is difficult. Others, clearly opposed to the national emergency, hope to avoid having to oppose Trump to the Senate altogether. Their goal is rather to persuade him to simply withdraw his statement of urgency and completely avoid the problem.

Senator Lamar Alexander R-Tenn. Part of these lawmakers, who called on the president to give up on his emergency declaration and the dangerous precedent that it would create.

As he told reporters on Thursday, Trump 's national emergency statement regarding the financing of the border wall is "useless, reckless and unconstitutional". He added: "We have never had a case where the president asked for money, the money was denied him by Congress then used the national emergency powers for the to spend anyway. "

It's a good start. But if Trump does not take the offer to avoid a split between the White House and Republicans in the Senate, lawmakers like Alexander must be willing to reprimand him by a vote, even if it means facing Trump's anger.

And, although the Senate needs the support of just one more senator to pass the bill, there should be much more willing to pass the principles to the party – ideally, enough for a two-thirds majority that it would be necessary to override. the veto almost certain if the bill was passed.

Defending the Constitution, after all, is a commitment to a set of ideas, not a particular person or brand. Or like, Rep. Justin Amash R-Mich., One of the thirteen Republicans in the House who have already put their votes where the stated principles are, says: