Sneaking Trump a Blank Check for War?

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Last Updated on May 4, 2018.

This is terrifying. A new Senate bill could give Donald Trump a blank check for global, endless war.

We’re talking about a president who just illegally bombed Syria, can’t wait to scrap the Iran deal, and is building more “usable” nukes. A president who is literally building a war cabinet. Congress should be taking urgent steps to restrict Trump’s war-making ability.

Instead, Senators Bob Corker and Tim Kaine’s proposed new Authorization for the Use of Military Force, or AUMF, would throw the doors wide open for Trump to declare more war. Wherever he wants. On whomever he wants.

And all Trump would need do is give Congress an FYI — no permission, no public vote, no oversight whatsoever.

The only good news here: This resolution hasn’t reached the Senate floor yet. So if we can alert our senators immediately that their constituents are unequivocally opposed to this bill, then we can block this horrifically dangerous piece of legislation. But we’ve got to act fast.

Tell the Senate: Don’t Give Trump a Blank Check for War. Vote no on the Corker-Kaine AUMF.

The Constitution is clear that only Congress can declare war — because Congress is accountable to constituents like us. But for years, Congress has ignored that responsibility, refusing to vote on wars from American support of Saudi brutality in Yemen to Trump’s illegal bombing of Syria last week.

What’s more, the President already has a massive blank check for war from Congress — the 2001 AUMF, which has been stretched to cover sixteen straight years of endless wars.

Now, this resolution would take a red pen to the Constitution and make Trump’s blank check for war nearly limitless. There aren’t words to describe how dangerous that would be under any president — but especially this one.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is reportedly voting on this blank check for war as soon as Monday. This is our best chance to kill this terrible bill. But we’ve got to drive pressure on the Senate immediately.

Tell the Senate: Your constituents are watching. Reject the Corker-Kaine AUMF.

May 4, 2018