Dems would shut down government AGAIN, leave workers without pay

Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, said Democrats are “absolutely” prepared to risk another government shutdown in order to push for changes to the Trump administration’s federal immigration enforcement policies. 

Thompson made the remarks during an appearance on CNN after Democrats and Republicans ended the record-setting partial shutdown that disrupted multiple federal agencies before lawmakers reached a deal Thursday to fund most of DHS through the end of September. The funding bill covers agencies including TSA and the Secret Service, but excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Republicans are expected to pursue separate funding for those agencies through a reconciliation bill.

During the CNN interview, host Victor Blackwell noted that Democrats had withheld votes in an effort to secure reforms to federal immigration enforcement protocols. He asked if Democrats would withhold votes to pursue these reforms again when funding expires at the end of September. 

“There’s no question,” Thompson replied. “In America, police shouldn’t wear masks while walking the streets. They need identification, they need cameras, and they need judicial warrants.”

The shutdown, which began in February, saw massive disruptions for travelers as unpaid TSA workers led to staffing shortages and long airport security lines across the country. Despite this, Thompson said Democrats are willing to let this happen again.

“Would you say ‘absolutely,’ that suggests that there could be another shutdown, and there could be another lapse in pay for those TSA workers, the Coast Guard, if Democrats withhold those votes at the end of September,” Blackwell said.

“Absolutely. Victor, look, we have to stand for democracy. If we have to fight for it, there has to be sacrifice,” Thompson replied.