“What took them so long?” Statement on Senate Punting on Reconciliation Bill Under Pressure over Slush Fund

Gilbert, AZ — May 21, 2026

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“What took them so long? We need a Congress that takes its job seriously.”
 Chris James on Senate Punting Slush Fund & ICE/CBP Money

Gilbert, AZ – Chris James, Democrat for Congress in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, issued the following statement on Republicans in Congress punting on the reconciliation bill they’re using to avoid a Democratic filibuster on ICE/CBP funding and other pet projects using taxpayer money: 

“The corruption in Trump’s executive branch is so staggering that even the dysfunctional rubber-stamp Congress had to pause. Donald Trump forced the DOJ to agree to a $1.8 billion slush fund to pay his supporters who claim they were targeted for political purposes, but there’s no real oversight, and it’s clear the money would go to people like January 6th rioters who beat police officers at the Capitol. That should infuriate us all. It finally forced Republicans to punt on a reconciliation package they’re using to avoid a Democratic filibuster on Trump’s pet projects, including $70 billion more for ICE/CBP funding, $1 billion for Trump’s ballroom project, and the egregious $1.8 billion slush fund. But what took them so long? We need a Congress that takes its job seriously.”

— Chris James