Kennedy in Fox Digital: Democrats’ anti-ICE tantrum leaves Republicans with one option going forward
Position: Senator Kennedy argues that Democratic opposition to ICE funding reflects capitulation to the party's anti-immigration wing and demonstrates that Republicans must use budget reconciliation to pass tax and cost-of-living measures without Democratic support.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in Fox News Digital explaining how Democrats' shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security is proof that Republicans will need to use reconciliation yet again to address any of the cost-of-living issues facing America. Key excerpts of the op-ed are below: "For more than 70 days, Senate Democrats claimed that they shut down the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) because they wanted to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It's clear now that they shut down DHS out of fear of their own voters. "The loon wing of the Democratic Party — the folks who think Dr. Seuss is racist, Mr. Potato Head is sexist and children can change their genders at recess — is the largest and loudest segment of the Democratic Party. They hate our immigration laws. They want criminal illegal aliens to roam free while ICE officers rot in jail. And they have made it clear to every Democrat in office that a vote to fund ICE would haunt them for the rest of their natural lives." "As the anti-ICE, pro-Karen wing has grown in prominence, Senate Democrats have developed a severe allergy to common-sense policies. "It's why they voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill and the thousands of dollars of tax savings for the average American. And why they melted down when Republicans voted to rescind more than $9 billion in woke foreign aid, including funding for 'Sesame Street' programs in Iraq, free vasectomies in Zambia and pastry-cooking classes for male prostitutes in Nepal. "I don't hate my Democratic colleagues for losing their minds to appease their political base. I don't hate anybody. But the loon wing's dominance has changed how Republicans need to operate if we are ever going to get anything done." "The One Big Beautiful Bill made important changes to our tax code to keep more money in people's pockets, including no tax on tips, overtime and some Social Security benefits. But we can do a lot more to help Americans make ends meet through reconciliation. "Senate Democrats aren't just holding ICE hostage on behalf of the loon wing of their party. They're stopping every effort we make to improve the lives of the American people. If we want to fulfill all the other promises we made to American families, reconciliation is our only opportunity. I hope we won't waste it."