The Department of Homeland Security is experiencing a shutdown, and for this, the Democrats hold responsibility. They’ve refused to support a vital funding bill unless significant changes to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) were implemented. Now, as predictable as clockwork, they’re attempting to shift the blame onto the Republicans. It’s the classic political game – put your demands on the table, refuse to budge, and when the boat rocks, point the finger across the aisle.
The Democrats’ refusal to back the bill has left countless government workers in a lurch. Employees from various critical agencies like FEMA, the TSA, and the Secret Service are now likely to work without their deserved paychecks. But why should this surprise us? Once again, the Democrats, and especially those in the Senate, wouldn’t blink twice about letting the chips fall where they may, as long as it isn’t their chips. History indeed likes to repeat itself in Washington, especially when there are political points to be scored by blaming the other side.
In this circus, Republican Congressman Mike Lawler plays the voice of reason. He’s never supported a government shutdown and stands firm in his belief that the current scenario is sheer absurdity. Yet, here we are. The House had already pushed forward the necessary appropriations bills, sending them to the Senate. The Senate’s failure to agree, coupled with the White House’s reluctance to compromise, has brought us to this stalemate. This sounds like a classic case of all talk, no action – the Senate Democrats are perfecting this art.
In parallel, President Trump is focused on another area of contention – eliminating sanctuary cities. As local jurisdictions toy with the idea of ignoring federal laws, the chaos that ensues is complex. Sanctuary cities are portrayed as noble havens, but in reality, they often become hotbeds for criminals. Congressman Lawler is all too familiar with this issue, given his home county’s battle against becoming a sanctuary county. His steadfast fight reflects a desire to ensure safer communities. Yet, many jurisdictions prefer to play the rebellious teenager, disrespecting federal laws to appear ‘progressive.’
Now on the topic of ensuring secure elections. The Save America Act, advocating for voter ID requirements, hits another political nerve. This supposedly simple concept of requiring identification to vote has been tangled in a web woven by Democrats who fear it might cost them votes. Surprisingly, the idea that voting should be for citizens seems not to compute for some. It’s as if common sense took a detour around Capitol Hill. Getting Democrats on board for such a straightforward bill seems akin to convincing a cat to swim. Desperation may drive some to enforce an executive order just to ensure that the voice of the people is genuinely that of citizens. It’s about time for the political divisions to end and for both sides to meet in the middle, wherever it might really be.
