U.S. Democrats are preparing a series of legal challenges to President Donald Trump's latest attempt to fund a border wall with Mexico.
Trump has declared a national emergency to bypass Congress for the money. Both houses of Congress approved a budget bill on Thursday that includes about 1.3 billion dollars for the wall.
Trump was unhappy with that outcome, which fell well short of his demand for 5.7 billion dollars. But he signed the bill anyway in what appeared to be a move to avert another government shutdown. Instead, he used his national emergency declaration to free up as much as eight billion dollars from defense and other budgets.
Democrats have vowed to challenge the president's action. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a joint statement. It says: "The president's unlawful declaration over a crisis that does not exist does great violence to our Constitution and makes America less safe."
◆bypassう回する a road that goes around a town or other busy area rather than through it
◆fall short of及ばない、達しないto be less than the amount or standard that is needed or that you want
◆avert避ける to prevent something unpleasant from happening
◆shutdown閉鎖the closing of a factory, business, or piece of machinery, either permanently or for a short timee
◆free up使えるようにする
◆vow誓うa religious promise that you will do something for God, the church etc>
