Tampa, Fla.-(Newsradio WFLA)-Tampa Democratic U.S. Representative Kathy Castor is reacting to President Trump's emergency border declaration. Below is a copy of her release.
“President Trump’s personal political predicament does not qualify as a national emergency. He manufactured a national emergency to unlawfully divert funds to his pet project instead of focusing on what matters to American families like lowering health care costs, creating jobs through infrastructure and tackling the climate crisis.
“President Trump could not convince Mexico to build his wall as he promised, so he turned to the American taxpayers to pay billions of dollars for it and then shut down the government when he did not get his way. A bipartisan majority in Congress also rejected funding for the ineffective and wasteful border wall.
“As the Representative for MacDill Air Force Base and the brave men and women who serve there, I am furious that President Trump is diverting over $3.6 Billion in military construction resources – resources that should be used to enhance our military readiness, improve base housing and truly safeguard our national security. It is wrong for President Trump to steal funds that are used to support America’s military service members.”
Photo by WFLA's Sharon Parker