Democrats weigh funding fight over ICE after Minneapolis shooting

We will know in short order if a political fight is brewing.

Such is the case in the past few days regarding congressional spending and war powers.

Article I, Section 9 declares, “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”

The most important power granted to Congress is over the federal purse strings. In other words, what Congress deems the federal government should spend. 

There were calls from the left to hold up funding for the Pentagon or State Department after the U.S. strike in Venezuela. Now, there’s a debate about hamstringing the Department of Homeland Security and ICE after an agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

Liberal Democrats are apoplectic. 

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: PROGRESSIVES EYE SHUTDOWN LEVERAGE TO REIN IN ICE, VENEZUELA OPERATIONS

“A child has her lost her mom. And y’all want to pretend that it is OK,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, fighting back tears. “I am asking if there is anyone that will stand for the very people that elected us and sent us to Congress?”

“A lot of people are talking about different reforms, and that’s their prerogative,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee. “Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee have written [Chairman Andrew] Garbarino, R-N.Y., saying, ‘We’d like to have an oversight hearing on what’s happening with ICE.’ That’s a reasonable request.”

I pressed Thompson on whether Congress should use appropriations to effect change at ICE.

“That’s above my pay grade,” answered Thompson.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. He’s more aggressive about Congress exerting its muscle over the federal treasury.