MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 23 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday urged congressional Republicans to work during the upcoming Easter holiday to pass a voter identification bill that Democrats strongly oppose.
Trump said the voting bill should be included in any deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down since February 13, when Democrats called for reforms to immigration enforcement.
“I’m asking Republican senators to do this immediately. You don’t have to vote quickly. Don’t worry about Easter, go home. In fact, do this for Jesus,” Trump said at a roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee.
Lawmakers will begin their two-week Easter recess this weekend.
The lack of funding means tens of thousands of TSA personnel have been working without pay for five weeks, leading some airport security staff to call in sick or quit entirely.
The voting bill would require voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to vote. The bill currently lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome Democratic opposition in the 100-member Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats.
(Reporting by Beau Erickson and Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by David Ljungren)
