DENVER \u2014 Colorado is joining with California and other states in challenging President Donald Trump\u2019s emergency declaration to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement Monday, Gov. Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser said they decided to join the effort in part because tens of millions of dollars could be diverted from military construction projects in Colorado to build a border wall.\u201dIn this action, we are fighting for Colorado\u2019s interests and defending the rule of law,\u201d the two Democrats, who took office last month, said.<\/p>\n
The Colorado Springs area is home to several large military installations, including Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy and Peterson Air Force Base, the home of U.S. Northern Command which is responsible for homeland defense. Besides providing for the nation\u2019s defense, Polis and Weiser said Colorado\u2019s military facilities are important economic drivers.<\/p>\n
The announcement came on the same day protesters gathered in frigid weather at the state Capitol to protest the emergency declaration.<\/p>\n
Denverite reported the crowd of more than 100 people roared with approval when Weiser told them his office was joining the multistate lawsuit challenging Trump\u2019s action.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Polis called Trump\u2019s plan to bypass Congress to spend more money on a border wall \u201can astonishing abuse of power.\u201d<\/p>\n