NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The long lines and long waits at many U.S. airports because of the partial federal government shutdown is affecting members of Congress. And Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said Tuesday (March 24) the White House is working on a deal that would get TSA agents paid.
“I’ve had two meetings canceled because they couldn’t get through TSA to fly to D.C,” Cassidy said.
TSA agents have not received their salaries for a month.
“TSA agents, they’re about to miss another paycheck. At Louis Armstrong airport, people have been in line stretching out to the parking garage and taking five hours to get through to their flight,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy and congressional Republicans blame Democrats for TSA agents’ plight. Democrats, who want reforms to the conduct of ICE agents, blame Republicans for blocking measures that would have funded TSA and other DHS agencies outside of ICE and Border Patrol.
“And this notion that it’s ‘my way or the highway’ is never going to work with us, because we are going to continue to fight for the nuances of the American people,” Congressman Troy Carter, a Democrat from New Orleans, said. “This notion that we have to take a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s a non-starter.”
The shutdown and its impact on American airline passengers comes with political risks.
“Well, generally speaking, the trend that we’ve seen in the past is that the party in power generally gets the blame in government shutdowns,” said Dr. Robert Collins, a Dillard University political analyst who spent years working in the Senate.
Republicans control Congress and the White House.
“The latest polling this week shows that about 35 percent of the American people believe that the Republicans are to blame, about 25 percent believe that the Democrats are to blame, and the rest basically blame both,” Collins said.
He said there are risks for Democrats as well.
“It’s very risky, simply because it’s gone on so long already that it’s actually causing pain. Not just amongst the TSA workers, but also amongst the flying public,” Collins said.
The longer the impasse lasts, the bigger the political risk for both parties on Capitol Hill.
“The American people are basically just going to blame everybody. They’re going to blame everybody. They’re going to blame every incumbent. And so, you know, basically every incumbent in the upcoming election cycle could possibly face some opposition because of the anger of the American voter right now,” Collins said.
Collins said he thinks President Trump should free up Republicans in the Senate to make a deal with Democrats.
“Both political parties are sort of playing a game of chicken right now,” Collins said. “My opinion is that the president should go ahead and release the Senate leaders to go ahead and make a deal with the Democrats, simply to get the TSA workers back on the job and to get the airports moving at full speed again.”
Fox 8 asked Cassidy what he is willing to vote for to ensure TSA agents receive their pay.
“I will vote for the deal that the White House is now working on, which would pay all parts of the Department of Homeland Security and use the money in the bank to pay for that portion that is not covered by the current bill,” Cassidy said. “That would allow us to continue operations across the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security. I think the White House is going to sign off on that, and I’m good with that.”
Fox 8 reached out to Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who is challenging Cassidy’s reelection bid, but did not hear back.
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