Mike Pence lobbies GOP so he does not reprimand Trump after the national emergency



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The vice president should sit down with Sens. Thom Tillis, Mike Lee, Portman Rob, Pat Toomey and Lamar Alexander, according to an administration official, while the Western wing fears more and more that the vote turns into an embarrassing reprimand for Trump.

Until now, four Republicans – Sense. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Tillis – said they would support the resolution, which is tantamount to a presidential warning. CNN reported last week that the White House had pressured the Republicans to vote against the resolution, warning those who do not agree on the risk of electoral consequences for 2020.

Administration officials believe that if only a handful of Republicans support the resolution, the problem will not be as serious as opposition is expected. But if this number reaches 10 or more Republican senators, these officials worry about the split in the party.

Speaking Tuesday at the Credit Union National Association's government affairs conference, Mr Pence said that a vote against the president's emergency declaration was a vote against border security. He called on senators to defend border security and support Trump.

"Although it has clear legal power under the National Emergencies Act, some members of Congress actually prevent the president from exercising the power that Congress has assigned him to do." facing an undeniable humanitarian crisis on our southern border, "said Pence.

The Senate is expected to vote Thursday on the disapproval resolution, which was voted 245-182 by the Democratic-controlled House last month. Trump is committed to vetoing the measure and it is doubtful whether lawmakers have enough support to circumvent it.

According to several people involved, Lee and Tillis are evaluating a proposal that would be considered separately and later than the vote of disapproval this week and that would apply only to future statements. Congress would have to approve any urgent declaration of more than 30 days – rather than the law in force, which only allows Congressional disapproval. The change would actually give Congress more power with respect to the president's use of national emergency power.

The White House council rejected this idea, according to the population, and there is no indication that the president would agree with anything that would technically limit his authority.

That said, it's an effort that Lee and Tillis are striving to escape. If the president agreed to support the bill, it would seem that the opposition of the GOP to the current measure to repress Trump would decrease considerably.

But at this point, they still do not have the key element – presidential support – while the vote will be held on Thursday. Several Senate aides said the number of potential "no" votes was still between 10 and 15.

White House associates want to avoid another round of negative news – one on Republicans breaking with the president – and do not want lawmakers to see in this vote a vote of no consequence.

In recent days, White House officials have sent a harsh message to GOP senators, especially those who were to be re-elected in 2020: they would have consequences if they voted with the Democrats and challenged the president. They promised that it would affect their status with the administration and that there would be retribution, including potential primary fights.

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