Lindsey Graham urges Trump to reopen government for 3 weeks before declaring a national emergency

Washington Examiner ^ | January 13, 2019 09:59 AM | Naomi Lim

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President Trump should reopen the federal government for three weeks before declaring a national emergency, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"Before he pulls the plug on the legislative option, and I think we're almost there, I would urge him to open up the government for a short period of time, like three weeks, before he pulls the plug, see if we can get a deal," the South Carolina Republican said during an interview with "Fox News Sunday." "If we can't at the end of three weeks, all bets are off, see if you can do it by himself through the emergency powers, that's my recommendation."

But Graham, who has taken a high-profile role in discussions regarding the partial government shutdown given his close relationship with Trump and his interest in comprehensive immigration reform, warned that a legislative resolution to the funding impasse "is just about shut off." He repeatedly referred to the mock offer from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., of $1 for the president's proposed southern border wall.

Graham, the new Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, on Sunday also downplayed past criticism of former President Barack Obama's use of executive power. He said he had spoken to Trump earlier Sunday morning and the president told him he considered the emergency route to be his last option.

"A lot of presidents have declared emergencies," Graham said. "I think there is a crisis at the border, I think it fits the definition of a national emergency. It's the last option, not the first option, but we're pretty close to that being the only option."

The partial government shutdown began on Dec. 22 due to a breakdown in negotiations between lawmakers on Capitol Hill over Trump's campaign promise to build a physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. The president has been threatening...

[Alberta's Child]

Lindsey Graham is calling for those measures for these simple reasons:

1. His constituents want a wall along the border.
2. His financial backers DON'T want a wall along the border.
3. Therefore, he doesn't want to cast a vote on any measure that includes a solid commitment one way or another.
4. So he wants Trump to try to declare a national emergency to take the matter out of his hands ... with the hopes that it will be tied up in court for years.

[Crucial]

Graham is Mr. Wormtongue

[Trump.Deplorable]

If I was President Trump and I just declared national emergency to build the badly needed wall/fence/wence

I would demand the democrats CUT 5.7 billion out of the CR before I would open government. 5.7 billion out of social and wasteful spending like NPR, PBS, Planned Parenthood, anything that has nothing to do with defense of the country or defending the borders.

Make them pay for this stunt.

And keep the government closed until they do

I would also do weekly lay offs of liberal departments like EPA, Glowbull warming scientists, Mueller, etc. Make em cry

[Caipirabob]

President Trump, unlike Graham is a man, and does not cater to a RINO squish.

[montag813]

I can actually agree with this.

I can too -- on Trump's terms. That means re-open, present the American people with all the billions Democrats HAVE funded on ridiculous or failed pet projects -- including $1 billion to Boeing and others down the drain on an 'electronic wall', and ask why they won't commit a measly $5.7 billion to a wall. MAKE THE P.R. CASE. Run ads after ad, and make statement after statement. Then if they still say no...shut it down again and make it clear that this time, it IS on them!

[JudyinCanada]

Yup - keep it shut down until it goes to the Supreme Court. That’ll light a fire under them.

[SharpRightTurn]

Sen. Grahamnesty just doesn’t seem to want to give up on another amnesty push.

Don’t fall for it, Mr. Pres. Keep the partial shutdown going to keep Chuck and Nancy on the hotseat or declare a state of emergency and start the wall construction. Don’t give in to any amnesty, please.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

How about 48hrs.

Trump said it would take 15 minutes

Then Nancy owns it totally...then hit w emergency move

[Chickensoup]

for Pete’s Sake

Stop the pussyfooting.

Stop the justifying.

No one’s mind is going to change.

Just declare an emergency and fund the flipping wall.

Stop acting like you want them to agree, they never will. Ever.

[Clutch Martin]

DHS needs to open prior to emergent declaration.

[Cobra64]

No... shut down MORE government offices. For every day this drags on, shut down 10 additional federal government offices.

[montag813]

Stop acting like you want them to agree, they never will. Ever.

This is about P.R., not getting Marxists to "agree"

[Chickensoup]

You dont need it.

It has been said.

Before people lose interest, get bored Stike!

[upchuck]

What an outrageous idea LINDA. Graham is slipping back into his uber RINO mode.

I'm sure Nancy and Chucky are ecstatic over your plan. Hopefully President Trump will tell you to stick it.

Lindsey
Graham
ping!

Want on or off Linda's fav ping list? Just FReepmail me.

[House Atreides]

Unlike other Freepers who have Alzheimers, Linda gave us those crucial Kavanaugh votes and led to the Senate voting in those conservative fed judges before the new years’ end..

However, sometimes the Deep State pulls the strings once in awhile and we have Linda..
*************************************************
Well, Linda should change back into Lindsey 2.0, get off his dead ass and push through the existing judicial nominees awaiting HIS committee’s action. Otherwise STFU, Linda.

[McCabe]

NO!!!!!!
The Dems will just exploit this as weakness on Trump’s part! They’ll hem and haw and draw it out until after Mueller’s (BS, insinuating) results, and THEN say, based on the results they can’t in good conscience work with Trump! Don’t do it Mr President!! It’s all a game, and we’re tired of being pawns.

[Svartalfiar]

"Before he pulls the plug on the legislative option, and I think we're almost there, I would urge him to open up the government for a short period of time, like three weeks, before he pulls the plug, see if we can get a deal," the South Carolina Republican said during an interview with "Fox News Sunday." "If we can't at the end of three weeks, all bets are off, see if you can do it by himself through the emergency powers, that's my recommendation."

Huh? How does Trump just declare the funding issues to be over? He CAN'T 'reopen the government' until Congress passes funding for him to do so. He can't just tell people to start working again, or just pay them, when there's no $$ appropriated for him to do so. The only things Trump could do, would be to either declare furloughed positions as essential (which would cause issues as to why they were non-essential during every other shutdown, but only half of this one [also, they still wouldn't get paid]), OR, he could simply cut those positions, meaning there's a bigger percentage of the govjobs being active / not furloughed.

[trebb]

???? The deal they need to make can be done (per President Trump) in a 15 minute meeting and also serve to open the government. Can’t see what logic there is in opening it for a short period which would probably cost us 3 months worth of spending for the 3 weeks he wants it open.

[Leep]

Personally, I would make no deal ..and any deal I did make would be very little..and notvuntil the wall is funded.
What kind of twisted American sides with illegal occupiers over its citizens? And makes deal over national security.?
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