President Trump was right Friday to veto an attempt by Senate and House Democrats to prevent him from using his national emergency powers at the border.
Twelve Senate Republicans – claiming Trump overreached his constitutional authority – joined the Democrats to pass a resolution overturning Trump’s authority. They’re wrong.
Consider that from Jan. 20, 2009 until Jan. 5, 2011 the Democrats controlled the White House, the Senate and the House with nearly a supermajority, including two independents who caucused with the Democrats.
But despite this power, President Obama and the Democrats refused to tackle immigration reform – an issue they claimed to care deeply about. In fact, the only major piece of controversial legislation they tackled during this time was health care reform – the hallmark of President Obama’s first campaign.
Why? Because of politics.
President Obama and the Democrats were too worried about re-election. They knew a majority of Americans were against immigration reform without securing the border first, so they punted.