MSNBC’s Katy Tur said Republicans are essentially turning Congress into an irrelevant branch of government by going along with Donald Trump’s fake emergency declaration.
If Republicans in Congress leave it up to the courts and they ultimately uphold Trump’s abuse of power, then “they do stand to lose a lot of congressional authority,” the MSNBC host said.
“If this goes to the courts and the courts uphold it, what’s the point of Congress?” Tur asked.
Video:
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
Katy Tur says Republicans are essentially making Congress irrelevant by letting Trump get away with his fake national emergency. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/3Pqgtj4aZG
— PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 19, 2019
Tur said:
They do stand to lose a lot of congressional authority. If this goes to the courts and the courts uphold it, what’s the point of Congress? You have the president who can declare whatever he wants, he or she wants.
Republicans have abdicated their responsibility
In the Trump era, Republicans in Congress have refused to act as a co-equal branch of government. They have willingly given up their constitutional powers in order to appease and protect the president.
As Katy Tur added on Monday, “Why would someone like Mitch McConnell or anybody else be so willing to give up congressional authority – their own power – to support anyone – Democratic, Republican or Independent?”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” she added.
A measure to block Trump’s fake emergency declaration may very well pass both chambers of Congress as a key number of Republicans have publicly expressed their concerns, but the president is likely to veto it.
If Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, refuse to override that potential veto and prevent a blatant abuse of power by Trump, they are once again abdicating their responsibilities and making Congress an irrelevant branch of government.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
