“We’re holding a gun to our own heads by doing this”
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn
WASHINGTON D.C (Agencies) – Republican senators criticised Donald Trump’s tariffs against Mexico in a private gathering yesterday, Tuesday June 4th, with White House and Justice Department officials, who struggled to explain their legal process for implementing the new charges.
A half dozen GOP senators spoke against the decision to impose tariffs on Mexico, considering that as “ill-advise”. This was said to NewsMax by a person who attended the gathering.
The members insisted Trump should hold off on any declarations until he can brief members personally on the plan, according to this person. But with Trump in Europe and members scheduled to leave for D-Day commemorations, that may not be possible before Monday’s deadline for activating the first band of 5% tariffs on all goods coming from Mexico.
A senior GOP official expressed some dismay that White House officials seemed unprepared to answer questions. This official also said it was too soon to say the White House tariff plan is doomed but that senators are treating these tariffs differently than those imposed on China, a move that was viewed as retaliation for Chinese trading practices. “There is a big difference with Mexico in that these tariffs are intended to affect border policy”. The official said.
This defiant Republican senators warned Trump administration officials they were prepared to block the president’s effort to impose tariffs on Mexican imports, threatening to assemble a veto-proof majority to mount their most direct confrontation with the president since he took office.
On the other hand, Senator Chris Coons said he doesn’t have much faith they’ll follow through. “Frankly, this is a Republican caucus that tends to fall in line, even when they have good reason to have profound misgivings about the president’s decisions,” the Delaware Democrat told CNN “Hopefully, this is the breakpoint where Senate Republicans slow down the president’s endless swinging of the club of tariffs and hitting our closest allies.”
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn reflected on the possible effect that tariffs could have at the electoral level. “We’re putting a gun to our own heads”.
Apparently Trump, did not understand the messages since today he tweeted:
“House Republicans support the President on Tariffs with Mexico all the way, & that makes any measure the President takes on the Border totally Veto proof. Why wouldn’t you as Republicans support him when that will allow our President to make a better deal.” Thank you @GOPLeader
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 5 de junio de 2019
The law that provides for presidential emergency declarations also allows Congress to vote to overturn them. When Trump declared the border emergency earlier this year, Congress voted to overturn it, but Trump vetoed the measure and Congress failed to override the veto. This time, opponents of Trump’s tariffs say they have enough support in the Senate to override a veto. If so, it would be the first successful veto override vote in Trump´s presidency and a striking personal defeat for Trump.
The clock is ticking and time is passing quickly; 5 days to the first 5% tariff.
The Yucatan Times
Newsroom
