Well, here we are on day 35 of the government shutdown, and the Senate’s latest attempt to reinstate federal paychecks has spectacularly flopped.
Kudos to Senator Fetterman for bravely crossing the aisle, but it’s clear that the Democratic Party has decided to play its little game of “chicken” with TSA employees and other DHS agencies, leaving many wondering if they truly care about the federal workers who keep our skies safe.
The irony of playing hardball over immigration policy while folks are standing in grueling security lines is just too rich to ignore.
What’s wild here is that the Democrats are putting the brakes on reopening just to bolster their political leverage.
Apparently, they think their base would prefer long lines at the airport over a compromise with the very security agencies they claim to support. It’s as if they’ve forgotten that a government shutdown also means families can’t pay their bills, and TSA agents, usually so friendly when we’re madly trying to catch a flight, are left empty-handed while Congress plays their version of political roulette.
Senators Hoeven and Kennedy have both pointed out the refreshing, albeit rare, opportunity for bipartisan negotiations, but it seems the Democrats are more committed to posturing than progress. It’s a classic case of “I’d rather hold the government hostage than give in to what might even be called common sense.”
If they don’t pull their heads out of the sand soon, they’ll not only keep the TSA swamped, but they’ll also be facing the wrath of voters who have had just about enough of this political soap opera.
In the end, the only winners in this chaos might be the vendors selling snacks in TSA lines, as irritable travelers grab a bag of chips to pass the time. Maybe Congress should take note: People are hungry for solutions, not snacks or endless debates. It’s a shame they can’t seem to feed that appetite.
