Ohio’s congressional delegation is concerned that money designated for military projects here could be diverted to the border wall if President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration stands.
Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Niles) lists three at-risk projects totaling $77 million. They include a $7.4 million dollar machine gun range at Camp Garfield (formerly Camp Ravenna) in Ravenna and a nearly $9 million dollar main gate upgrade at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) says there are others as well.Sen. Brown says the legality of the President's declaration is in question.
“Some of that might be Wright Patterson Air Force Base, some of it might be veterans facilities, who knows? I mean he will take money from where he takes the money. We think it’s all an illegal act, but he has stacked the Supreme Court with ideologues that he appointed, at least the two new people, so I have great concern about this.”
Wright-Pat is supposed to get $61 million this year for an expansion of its National Air and Space Intelligence Center.
The House this week passed a resolution to terminate the national emergency. The Senate has to vote within 18 days. But even if Senators side with the House, the President has said he’ll veto the legislation. And there are not likely enough votes to override a veto.
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