Dems ready aggressive response to Trump emergency order, as GOP splinters

House Democrats are vowing an aggressive response to President Trump's emergency declaration at the southwest border, mulling ways to block his go-it-alone approach with legislation, legal action, or both.

Yet party leaders are in no immediate rush to show their hand, instead hoping to keep the focus on growing GOP divisions while pressuring more Republicans to oppose the president's unilateral power play.

Heading into the week-long President's Day recess, the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is distributing a spreadsheet to members logging a host of wide-ranging local projects potentially threatened by Trump's effort to shift funds from military construction coffers to the border wall.

The list - nearly 400-projects long - features a number of ventures in GOP districts. It includes maintenance facilities for F-35 stealth fighters at Eielson Air Force Base outside Fairbanks, Alaska; the operation of a middle school at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and funds to replace a training maze at Fort Bragg, N.C.

"We have to smoke out as many Republicans as possible by making the case that projects in their backyard are in jeopardy and will likely be raided to help pay for Trump's ineffective and politically motivated wall," said a senior Democratic aide.

Key congressional Republicans, meanwhile, don't need any nudge from Democrats. They're already tearing themselves apart over Trump's declaration.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dems-ready-aggressive-response-to-trump-emergency-order-as-gop-splinters/ar-BBTFmxj?li=BBnb7Kz