To the Editor:

Last week both our Senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, had two opportunities to demonstrate that they understood their jobs as described in the Constitution and the oath of office they took to defend that Constitution and not any individual person.

The first chance was a vote to end unauthorized U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia in support of their war in Yemen. The second chance was to support the resolution to cancel Trump’s National Emergency Declaration to take funds authorized for something else to build his wasteful and ineffective wall to fix a situation that doesn’t exist. 

Burr at least had the good sense not to say anything about his vote until after he ignored his duty to defend the congressional power of the purse as assigned by Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution and voted to support Trump in his illegal power grab.  

Sen. Tillis, on the other hand, had written an op-ed in the Washington Post on Feb. 25 saying, “As a U. S.  Senator, I cannot justify providing the executive with more ways to bypass Congress.”  Yet when it was time to vote, he voted no and gave Trump “more ways to bypass Congress” in violation of his oath to defend the Constitution.

Tillis, in a response to me, goes on to say he is working with the VP and senior White House staff to amend the National Emergencies Act so Democrats can’t do what Trump does. If your oath of office is to defend the Constitution, it shouldn’t matter whether the President is a Democrat or a Republican. The Constitution applies to any President.  Just another example of Tillis supporting one set of rules for Republicans but wanting different rules for Democrats, especially if power is involved.  

Jane Harrison

Waynesville