Sen. Angus King Monday rejected claims that Congressional Democrats are against border security when they object to President Donald Trump's demand for a wall, saying instead they reject a wall when it "doesn't make either economic or practical sense."
"There's nobody in the Congress who's for open borders," the Maine Independent told MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "I'm so tired of hearing 'you're either for the wall or you're for open borders, That's nonsense. Everyone is for good border security."
However, when it comes to Trump's demands for a wall, including statements that he could declare a national emergency to fund its construction, King said he is concerned.
"This is not only about a wall, but it's about a president that doesn't seem to realize that there are constraints on what he can do," said King. "If he is able to extort a policy that he wants out of the Congress that isn't popular in the country based upon holding the government hostage literally...then it'll happen again and again and again."
King also addressed the ongoing government shutdown, noting that there are far more people than the 800,000 federal employees who are mentioned as not receiving pay.
"There are probably another 500,000 or more contractors who service various government agencies," said King. "Once it's settled they're not going to get back pay, so they're in the crosshairs."
He also called on Congress to pass funding bill for national parks and other departments that have nothing to do with the wall, and then argue with the Department of Homeland Security over funding a border wall.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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