In a world where common sense occasionally takes a vacation, it seems that some of our representatives are fast-tracking decisions at ungodly hours when nobody’s looking. Under cover of night, a bill was pushed through that left several folks — not just you and me, but also a fair number of bewildered Republicans — scratching their heads and saying, “That’s not what I voted for.” It seems as though 3:00 a.m. isn’t the best time to hash out homeland security issues unless we’re talking about a really intense dream.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is sounding the alarm, pointing out that the latest bill has some glaring omissions. Apparently, this bill leaves out critical areas like human trafficking and cyber investigations. That’s right, folks, at a time when the nation is facing increased security risks, there’s talk of underfunding the people meant to keep us safe. Why not send out invitations to the ne’er-do-wells of the world, since we seem to be offering them an open house?
The numbers are eyebrow-raising: nearly 7,000 personnel from ICE and CBP are to be defunded. This is happening at a time when the headlines are filled with stories of violent actions committed by individuals who slipped past our borders. Clearly, it’s not the National Night Out America signed up for. Yet, Scalise and his allies are working to reverse this decision by passing a new bill to restore funding to these essential departments, hoping the Senate will support making common sense common again.
Echoing throughout the Capitol are calls for unity and action. Yet, despite the urgency, plenty of lawmakers seem to be on a vacation of sorts. It’s almost humorous if it weren’t so serious—talk about fiddling while Rome burns! Scalise and his compatriots are pushing forward, insisting that they will take whatever steps necessary to pass a bill that properly funds homeland security. They’re essentially saying to the Senate, “Party time is over, folks. We have work to do.”
While one might hope that all representatives would rally together for the good of the nation, it seems wishful thinking is the flavor of the day. Political expedience and midnight deals that favor open borders can’t protect Americans from the troubling threats looming over our heads. As Leader Scalise aptly puts it, for some, there is a puzzling preference for the days before 9/11—a pre-9/11 mindset, if you will. He argues it’s time for action, not inaction. The clear message is this: Let’s take the matter seriously and secure our nation before another tragedy strikes.
