Posted on 03/26/2019 1:27:27 PM PDT by dhuls
Lawmakers blocked the Department of Defense's move to transfer $1 billion for the construction of a physical barrier along the US-Mexico border, the latest showdown in the battle over the border wall that President Trump has vowed to build.
On Monday, the Pentagon authorized the transfer of funds to Army engineers for projects along the border, which include building 57 miles of 18-foot-high fencing, constructing and improving roads, and installing lighting in support of Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol. The move was carried out under the president's declaration of a national emergency, the department said in a statement.
As Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan was testifying before his committee, Rep. Adam Smith, the Democrat who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, released a letter denying the Pentagon's move to reprogram $1 billion.
"The House Committee on Armed Services has completed its review of the proposed reprogramming request," Smith's letter read, according to a copy obtained by Military Times. "The committee denies this request."
In a more detailed statement, Smith called the Department of Defense's decision to reprogram $1 billion without Congressional approval a violation of trust. "DoD is attempting to circumvent Congress and the American people's opposition to using taxpayer money for the construction of an unnecessary wall."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
It is time for a Revolution and I am serious.
They don’t care whats needed...the idea is to drain resources of this administration and stop or slow it down.
Adam Smith does not have that authority, nor does his Committee. The entire House already had it’s little resolution disagreeing with the President’s emergency declaration and failed to override Trump’s veto. This is pure and simple grandstanding. Adam Smith is a corrupt idiot who doesn’t even know what his authority is.
The federal government spends money on thousands of truly unnecessary things every day, generally with nary a peep about it from dem lawmakers. The fact that they are fighting this particular expenditure with everything they have proves that it IS absolutely necessary.
Are we, the American people, going to have ANY republicans stand up to this twit??? Are we???
The Senate Judiciary committee alone didn’t approve Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court Justice. This house committee can’t by itself block a $1 billion transfer. Who wrote this headline is wrong.
Funds are reprogrammed between programs all the time. That procedure needs the blessing of the responsible committee. This is not a reprogramming, this is a funding need due to a national emergency. Congress has no say.
Correct. This twit has no such power to somehow declare or block the transfer since it was made under the national emergency declaration and the House was unable to pass thier likely illegal effort to override the President's veto.
It'a MSN = Fake News.
The reprioritizing of money was not blocked by the committee. The D Chairman said he would not approve of this action but his disapproval is nothing more than show, as he, nor his committee have any power to stop it. Another fake news headline which of course is not accurate or thruthful.
Globalist Smith is an open border guy......been a strong voice in Congress advocating to pass legislation that creates a pathway to citizenship. ..also advocating for new legislation to reform deportation and detention policies. Plus he’s big on giving our money to foreign entities.
I knew posting this would create quite a frenzy! I believe it’s good for us to all see the extent the Fake News media and the elected nuts in Congress will go.
Exactly. As long as it’s already in the DoD budget and it’s the right “color” of money to use on such a project, Congress has no say in its use.
.....BINGO !
The news report is correct. The Committee within Congress refused to report it out of Committee and send it to the floor of the House. I am not sure what the next step might be, but the current news is accurate.
Investigate this ‘lawmaker’ for collusion with the drug cartels.
Nice try. The emergency declaration was an end run around this. They tried and failed to over-ride his veto.
Enjoy the wall...bit@h.
My exact thought!!
Lawmakers didn’t block anything.
What an outrageously false headline, even for these days!
They can go to court and try.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.