Thu 2/14: FAKE National Emergency, in progress now.

Quote is from this article. Read to understand the scope of this issue.

Right after El Chapo’s trial made it completely clear how useless a border wall would be, right after both New Mexico and California withdrew their guard troops as unnecessary, and in the face of a spending bill that reflected that reality, our president has decided to take a huge authoritarian leap forward with a declaration of a national emergency. This is a deliberate end run around Congress and our country’s system of checks and balances, all to appease his voting base.

Action – Tell our legislators to vote immediately for a resolution of disapproval to stop Trump’s revenge move.

Under the National Emergencies Act of 1976, the president can declare an emergency for just about anything. However, Congress gave itself the ability to terminate an emergency declaration. It’s only been tried once, when President George W. Bush tried to use an “emergency” to override federal wage requirements for government contractors rebuilding after Katrina. While the lawsuits against the administration are warming up…

Dust it off!

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep./Sen. to immediately vote for a resolution of disapproval for the president’s false declaration of an emergency to force through funding for a useless wall.

Contact
Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email. (CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
Who is my representative/senator?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com

Background

.@senatemajldr: "I've just had an opportunity to speak with President Trump…he's prepared to sign the bill. He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time." pic.twitter.com/iukGKjmoZ8

— CSPAN (@cspan) February 14, 2019

If the president can declare a national emergency to circumvent laws he doesn't like, it's very hard to see what the limits are. And if you have a president as authoritarian as Trump is, that is a truly frightening prospect. pic.twitter.com/qqKsx3Yemt

— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) February 14, 2019

What can a president do during an emergency (atlantic)
If Trump declares an emergency to build the wall, Congress can block him. (npr)
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/430070-mcconnell-trump-to-sign-border-deal-declare-national-emergency
https://truthout.org/articles/mcconnell-confirms-trump-will-declare-national-emergency-to-build-wall/
Trump plans national emergency to build border wall. (NYTimes)
Resistance Coloring Book – Stupid Border Wall Edition (IndivisibleVentura)

Declaring a national emergency over this President's vanity project is ridiculous. We don't need a wall. Instead, we should address the actual emergencies facing our country — everything from gun violence to the opioid crisis.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 14, 2019

Gun violence is an emergency.
Climate change is an emergency.
Our country's opioid epidemic is an emergency.

Donald Trump's ridiculous wall is not an emergency.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 14, 2019

An outrageous abuse of power—not to mention waste of taxpayer dollars—if he goes through with this ludicrous idea. Drop the absurd wall and do your job. https://t.co/kEWdIXjNjr

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 14, 2019

Trump’s inability to follow through on a campaign promise is not a national emergency.

Let’s not forget those still struggling to rebuild their lives after this administration failed to respond effectively to real emergencies in places like Puerto Rico. https://t.co/NMSRnvKJQF

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 14, 2019