BORDER/CONGRESS/DEMS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “President Donald Trump’s attempt to circumvent Congress to fund his border wall has set off an intense scramble by Democratic leaders to reject the move — with efforts to halt his emergency declaration set to come before Congress and the courts. The Democratic-controlled House plans to pursue that two-track approach immediately. Plans for legislative action are already underway: By early Friday afternoon, more than 50 House Democrats had asked to put their names on a measure to formally condemn the move, according to an aide familiar with the planning. That first legislative step, which is expected within weeks, involves a vote to formally end the presidential emergency, which Democrats dubbed a ‘power grab.’ The move will force Republicans in both chambers to go on the record on the White House’s largely unprecedented move. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, plans to introduce the resolution to formally terminate the executive order. He personally called Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — whose meteoric rise was driven by her vow to obstruct Trump — on Friday to ask her to be the primary co-sponsor.”
–Sarah Ferris, “Democrats vow full assault on Trump’s ‘power grab’,” Politico, February 15, 2019 2:19 pm