Let's talk about DHS funding, deadlines, Trump, and what's next.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about DHS funding, deadlines, and Trump.

Okay. So, the funding package that provides funding for most of the federal government made it through the House with a vote of 217 to 215. This package only provides funding for DHS until February 13th. Trump signed it. So, the government shutdown didn't last long. But that doesn't mean the political drama is over. In fact, it's just starting. February 13th. They have to have a new vote one way or another in less than 10 days.

Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut was one of the Democrats who voted for the package. She said, "I believe this is an opportunity to isolate DHS and go at it hammer and tongs, tooth and nail, whatever phrase you want to use, rather than having to figure out what the heck is going to happen to five other bills and all those departments.” There's unbelievable bipartisan bicameral support on those bills. So why squander that and then take the next 10 days next Friday and just bring DHS up?

Most of Capitol Hill, especially those in the Senate, see 10 days as optimistic to say the least. But even on the House side, you already have people involved in Appropriations suggesting it won't be resolved until at least March. A lot of the Democratic base is upset by the fact that the funding for the other departments went through and see it as giving up leverage. Democratic insiders on Capitol Hill seem to think the base will get over it because the real fight hasn't happened yet. They seem energized.

It's probably because ICE is becoming politically toxic. Not just because of the pressure being applied on Capitol Hill, but a string of setbacks is making supporting ICE politically untenable. Just in the last few days, a French consulting firm has decided to sell a US part of their company that has an ICE contract rather than continue the relationship. A Canadian boycott of a Canadian billionaire appears to have stopped the sale of a warehouse to DHS in Virginia. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Chicago, Philly, and all over California are talking about charges against ICE agents. A federal judge in Portland restricted immigration officers use of tear gas or projectile munitions.

Special Assistant US Attorney Julie Le, who has been in the Minnesota US Attorney's Office for about a month to help it deal with civil filings, reportedly expressed her dismay at ICE ignoring court orders and apparently told a judge, "The system sucks. This job sucks. I wish you would hold me in contempt so I would have a full 24 hours sleep.“

Still, another judge ruled that ICE must let lawmakers make unannounced visits to detention centers. Even the NFL seems to be distancing itself and indicated that ICE won't be present at the Super Bowl.

I could go with this for probably another two minutes, but I think you get the point. There's a feeling on the Democratic side of the aisle that all of the pressure from various angles is going to weigh on Republicans and make them more willing to negotiate. We'll see how that plays out over the next week.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.