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'Congress Always Chickens Out' on Problem Solving, Says Jane Harman - Balance of Power
Mar 23, 2026
Jane Harman, former Democratic representative from California who served as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said that Congress has shown it is not interested in stepping up in an active role in negotiations around the war with Iran or in working together to problem solve a deal on DHS funding.
President Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers to link funds to reopen the Department of Homeland Security to voter ID legislation and remain in Washington through the Easter holiday if needed — imploring them to “make this one for Jesus.”
“You don’t have to take a fast vote. Don’t worry about Easter going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus, OK? Make this one for Jesus,” Trump said Monday during an event in Memphis, Tennessee. “That would be a damn good thing.”
Trump’s comments Monday — and the fresh pressure on his party’s lawmakers to dig in — risk extending a funding fight over the Department of Homeland Security that has led to a partial government shutdown, squeezing staffing at the Transportation Security Administration and leaving travelers at many US airports with long security lines and delays.
Democrats have held up DHS funding to force reforms that would place new restrictions on immigration enforcement actions following the killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year. While Democrats have tried to fund TSA alone in response, those efforts have been blocked by Republicans.
But now Trump is pushing lawmakers to link the funding to the Save America Act, a proposed voter ID bill he has made a top legislative priority. In addition to heightened requirements to register to vote, the legislation would eliminate mail-in ballots except in select circumstances and includes provisions related to transgender surgeries and sports participation.
The president has previously pushed his party’s leaders in the Senate to abandon the filibuster to get the bill approved. The president said on Monday that he wanted to “merge” it with DHS funding, telling Republicans to not “make any deal on anything, unless you include voter ID.”
“I’m tying Homeland Security into voter identification with picture and proof of citizenship in order to vote,” Trump said. “Those two items are the most important things having to do with Homeland Security,” he added, saying “it should be part of the Homeland security bill.”
Jane Harman, former Democratic representative from California who served as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said that Congress has shown it is not interested in stepping up in an active role in negotiations around the war with Iran or in working together to problem solve a deal on DHS funding.
President Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers to link funds to reopen the Department of Homeland Security to voter ID legislation and remain in Washington through the Easter holiday if needed — imploring them to “make this one for Jesus.”
“You don’t have to take a fast vote. Don’t worry about Easter going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus, OK? Make this one for Jesus,” Trump said Monday during an event in Memphis, Tennessee. “That would be a damn good thing.”
Trump’s comments Monday — and the fresh pressure on his party’s lawmakers to dig in — risk extending a funding fight over the Department of Homeland Security that has led to a partial government shutdown, squeezing staffing at the Transportation Security Administration and leaving travelers at many US airports with long security lines and delays.
Democrats have held up DHS funding to force reforms that would place new restrictions on immigration enforcement actions following the killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year. While Democrats have tried to fund TSA alone in response, those efforts have been blocked by Republicans.
But now Trump is pushing lawmakers to link the funding to the Save America Act, a proposed voter ID bill he has made a top legislative priority. In addition to heightened requirements to register to vote, the legislation would eliminate mail-in ballots except in select circumstances and includes provisions related to transgender surgeries and sports participation.
The president has previously pushed his party’s leaders in the Senate to abandon the filibuster to get the bill approved. The president said on Monday that he wanted to “merge” it with DHS funding, telling Republicans to not “make any deal on anything, unless you include voter ID.”
“I’m tying Homeland Security into voter identification with picture and proof of citizenship in order to vote,” Trump said. “Those two items are the most important things having to do with Homeland Security,” he added, saying “it should be part of the Homeland security bill.”