GOP lawmakers discuss vote to block Trump’s new tariffs on Mexico, in a dramatic act of defiance

Washington Post ^ | June 3, 2019 | Erica Werner , Seung Min Kim, Damian Paletta

[Innovative]

Congressional Republicans have begun discussing whether they may have to vote to block President Trump’s planned new tariffs on Mexico, potentially igniting a second standoff this year over Trump’s use of executive powers to circumvent Congress, people familiar with the talks said.

The vote, which would be the GOP’s most dramatic act of defiance since Trump took office, could also have the effect of blocking billions of dollars in border wall funding that the president had announced in February when he declared a national emergency at the southern border, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks are private.

Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on Mexico — with which the United States has a free-trade agreement — rely on the president’s declaration of a national emergency at the border. But the law gives Congress the right to override the national emergency determination by passing a resolution of disapproval.

[frog in a pot]

The USA needs more free trade. Protectionists are grossly ignorant when it comes to economics.

That may be true on both counts. Do you argue the former should include countries that knowingly, recklessly and likely intentionally, as in the case of Mexico, presents several clear threats at once to the USA?

[unread]

WE THE PEOPLE.... If “we” can't find the necessary stones to grab our politicians by the neck and MAKE them do what needs to be done then....well, their just going do what's good for themselves and their pals...
Actually, I truly believe it's way past time for Mexico to receive a good old fashion ass kicking.. Money and corruption in their government has fueled the illicit drug industry for many years and murdered tens of thousands of our citizens. Not just those who've overdosed but also those who have been killed in gang violence.. 80 people were shot in Chicago last weekend.. Not that I give a rats butt about gang members but I sure some of those folks were just innocent by standers...
Enough is enough.. We need to make the DC. lawyers understand that it's their ass that's in the frying pan and about ready to be moved to the fire... :(

[Candor7]

If the Republicans do this, they will be primaried in their home states. Let the president solve the crisis at the border.

[jmaroneps37]

Hey it comes from the wapo so we should be careful. It might be true /s/

[DoodleDawg]

The GOP members in Congress don’t have the spine for something like this. They may babble about it for a while but nothing will come of it.

[central_va]

Who side is the GOP on? F these guys The GOP is toast post Trump.

[Phillyred]

The GOP will never understand when we hold all the cards, we can call the shots! Losers.

[central_va]

Coryn, Thune, Toomey and Ernst.

Free Traitors™, may right here on Free Republic.

[Buckeye McFrog]

If Trump manages to get the GOP to destroy itself by the time his administration ends it will just be icing on the cake.

[central_va]

After Trump wins the next election I wish he’d from a new Nationalist/MAGA party.

[Buckeye McFrog]

They may babble about it for a while but nothing will come of it.

Getting booked on The Hugh Hewitt Show takes precedence over the will of the people for a lot of them.

[central_va]

I you leave the party you not be able to vote in the primaries which is the GOP’s Achilles heal.

[central_va]

LOL! We are at 350M.

[central_va]

The USA needs more free trade. Protectionists are grossly ignorant when it comes to economics.

Just like the rest of the world that runs billion dollar trade defect with the USA?

Go to hell you globalist POS.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Meh. It’s the Washington COMpost. I read the whole thing. It’s just a lot of blustering by HOUSE Republicans who won’t have a say in this, anyway. The Senate won’t be approving anything the House sends them in the near future...and we have the 2020 LANDSLIDE ahead of us, too. :)

Joni Ernst is SUCH a disappointment! Her break-neck speed transformation from ‘Farm Gal’ to ‘Swamp Rat’ is truly one for the books!

And, this:

“Republicans rarely have opposed the president in public in a way that would threaten one of his key agenda items. And the growing opposition by the GOP to the new tariffs marks a potential testing point between the president and his party.

To date, Republicans have generally acquiesced as Trump has turned their traditionally pro-free-trade party upside down and imbued it with protectionist tendencies.”

Well, if they would PUT AMERICA FIRST which is their JOB, they wouldn’t have to worry about the flea-infested beds they’ve made for themselves now, would they? ;)

[central_va]

I like your analysis but I would add this. Both parties have carves a political niche where the two sides are not in conflict. The right wants globalism, "free" ( really f--- trade ) trade and cheap labor. The left wants socialism, and a dumb pliable electorate. The two sides/parties mesh together like perfectly formed gears. Maybe the left gear is a bit bigger than the right gear but they operate seamlessly.

[central_va]

That may be true on both counts

It's not true on any account.

[CIB-173RDABN]

The two political parties are playing GOOD COP BAD COP (reversing roles as required).

[bert]

For those of you who dwell under rocks, the 5% tariff proposed is but a trivial swat at the fly.

There is a greater threat that could be truly harmful. That threat is prominent in Trumps arsenal. That effective weapon curreently destroying Iran and severely punishing North Korea is sanctions.

You can’t or more likely won’t grasp the fact that the Trump objective is to improve the prospects for American companies exporting their products. In your misguided view, Trump is a Free Traitor because his primary reason for action is to increase American exports.

The tariff that you so gleefully espouse is a purely temporary hammer to drive the Free Trade nail.

Trading the world over is more American than Apple pie

[tenger]

How do we make the GOP afraid of us?

How does the left do it now with their representatives and senators? In fact, how does the left do it to our representatives and senators?