Reasonable
MN-06 Daily: March 16, 2026
Rep. Emmer went on Fox News this morning and used the word “reasonable” three times. It was the most informative thing he said.
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7 tweets. 1 media appearance. 0 votes. 0 mentions of MN-06. 0 mentions of the $50B war supplemental’s effect on the debt ceiling.
949 days since Rep. Emmer’s last in-person town hall — August 9, 2023 — Hamburg, MN
DHS Shutdown: Day 30. House returns today. Next recorded votes this afternoon.
Mornings with Maria
Emmer appeared on Fox News this morning for 7 minutes and 35 seconds. He called Operation Epic Fury “a bold move.” He called market volatility “a short-term disruption.” He said DHS reopening required “a reasonable way to approach it.” He called Chuck Schumer “insane.”
Three things he described as “reasonable.” One thing he described as “insane.” It’s worth spending a moment with the difference.
“Reasonable” Thing #1: Eliminating the Senate Filibuster
On the DHS shutdown, Emmer offered this on Fox this morning:
“Perhaps the Senate’s got to look at something like a temporary rule when it comes to the filibuster, where when the government’s not funded, you lift the filibuster and everything passes by a simple majority. That seems like a reasonable way to approach it.”
This is the House Majority Whip — the third-ranking Republican in the chamber that controls the House floor schedule — proposing that the Senate change its rules to pass legislation that his own party has declined to compromise on.
Here’s what the “temporary” suspension would actually do: lower the threshold so the Republican Senate majority can pass a bill over Democratic objection — a bill that includes unconditional ICE and CBP funding that Democrats have conditioned on reforms since two Americans were killed by federal agents. Then, presumably, restore the filibuster once the crisis that benefits Republicans is resolved.
That’s not a process reform. It’s a one-way ratchet. The mechanism only turns in one direction: toward the outcome Republicans want, right now, while they control the Senate.
What makes it more notable: the filibuster isn’t actually the obstacle. Democrats have offered to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service through legislation that already has the votes to pass by unanimous consent — no filibuster involved. Senate Republicans blocked it six times. House Republicans blocked the DeLauro version on the House floor. The bill to pay the TSA agents Emmer is tweeting about exists. His party has blocked it six times. His solution is to ask the other chamber to change its rules.
“Reasonable” Thing #2: The Arab Spring Comparison
On gas prices — now averaging $3.53 in the Twin Cities, up nearly 90 cents from a month ago — Emmer told Bartiromo:
“This is a short term disruption in the markets. As we know, you had an earlier guest talk about the same kind of spike and volatility that we had during the Arab Spring. This too shall pass as soon as this settles down.”
The Arab Spring began in December 2010. Tunisia didn’t stabilize until 2014. Egypt’s political transition lasted years. Syria descended into a civil war that lasted more than a decade. Libya has not fully stabilized.
On March 9, Emmer told CNBC the price surge was “a short-term cost to pay for a major long-term gain.” That was a week ago. Gas has risen another 18 cents at MSP-area pumps since then.
He has not defined “short-term.”
“Reasonable” Thing #3: The 3-to-5-Hour Airport Wait
In the same interview, and in a tweet this morning, Emmer said the DHS shutdown has produced “3- to 5-hour waits at major airports.”
According to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport’s own security wait time page, updated as of this weekend: Terminal 1 North — 5 minutes. Terminal 1 South — 10 minutes. KARE 11 confirmed last week that MSP is moving smoothly, with spring break forecasts projecting 3.3 million travelers through the airport over the next two weeks.
The airports with documented multi-hour waits are in Houston (216 minutes) and New Orleans (77 minutes). MSP — the airport serving his constituents — was at 5 to 10 minutes.
That doesn’t mean the shutdown isn’t real, or that TSA workers missing paychecks isn’t serious. It is. But the person calling for “reasonable” approaches used a number that doesn’t apply to the airport his constituents use, in the same breath as calling his opponents “deranged.”
What He Tweeted
What He Didn’t Mention
The six blocked votes. Democrats offered to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service without ICE and CBP. Republicans blocked it six times. Emmer’s tweets say Democrats are “100% to blame.” The vote record is public.
The $50 billion supplemental. Emmer confirmed on Fox this morning that a war funding request — potentially exceeding $50 billion — is coming “within the next week or maybe a little bit more,” and that Republicans will likely pass it without Democratic support. He did not mention the national debt, the deficit, or what MN-06 constituents will pay for it.
Gas prices. Minnesota average: $3.43/gallon today, up from $2.63 a month ago. He appeared on a national financial program and compared the price surge to the Arab Spring. He did not tell MN-06 constituents what they should expect to pay, or when.
The SCAM Act’s actual legislative status. Emmer introduced H.R. 7156 on January 20 — and it was first reported by Fox News, not announced through committee leadership or a floor scheduling notice. As of February 4, the bill text had not even been received by the Government Publishing Office for formal publication — fifteen days after introduction. It was referred to House Judiciary Committee, where it has sat for 55 days with no markup scheduled and no floor vote announced. It has now been promoted as the legislative response to Somali fraud, a Michigan synagogue attack, and an ODU shooting in the span of eight weeks.
Emmer is the Majority Whip. Scheduling legislation is his job. H.R. 7156 has been in committee for 55 days without a markup. That is a choice, not a circumstance.
“Mission accomplished.” Emmer said this morning: “As soon as this conflict is behind us, this mission has been accomplished.” Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in Operation Epic Fury. The administration has not defined victory. The Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. The phrase has a history in American wars.
949 days. No town hall.
The Questions
Submitted via Rep. Emmer’s official contact form, March 16, 2026. We are still awaiting a response to all previous submissions.
You said this morning that 3-to-5-hour airport wait times are occurring because of the DHS shutdown. MSP’s published wait times this weekend were 5 minutes (Terminal 1 North) and 10 minutes (Terminal 1 South). Which airports were you referring to, and what is your source?
Democrats have offered to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service through legislation that excludes ICE and CBP while negotiations continue. Senate Republicans have blocked that proposal six times. House Republicans blocked the DeLauro version in the House. Why is that proposal unacceptable, and what specific changes to ICE and CBP funding would you require before agreeing to fund TSA workers?
You confirmed this morning that a war supplemental request of $50 billion or more is coming and that Republicans will likely pass it alone. Will you support that supplemental? What is the projected impact on the national debt, and how do you respond to constituents in MN-06 who are simultaneously paying higher gas prices and being asked to fund a war that has no defined exit strategy?
You compared the current gas price surge to the Arab Spring this morning and called it a “short-term disruption.” Minnesota gas prices are up nearly 90 cents per gallon in one month. How long is short-term, and at what price point would you describe this as a long-term problem?
It has been 949 days since your last in-person town hall in MN-06 — August 9, 2023, Hamburg, MN. When is the next one?
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📊 Source Data:
Rep. Tom Emmer, Mornings with Maria, Fox News Channel, March 16, 2026 — MN-06 Watch transcript
@GOPMajorityWhip, @tomemmer — Twitter/X feed, March 14–16, 2026
Fox 9: “Twin Cities gas prices jump another 18 cents in a week amid Iran war,” March 16, 2026
AAA Fuel Gauge Report: Minnesota average gas price, March 16, 2026 ($3.43/gallon)
MSP Airport: Security Wait Times page, updated March 16, 2026
KARE 11: MSP spring break wait times, March 11, 2026
The Hill: “Republicans block Democratic bill to fund DHS agencies other than ICE, CBP,” March 12, 2026
Senate Appropriations Committee (Minority): “In 24 Hours, Senate Republicans Block Five Separate Bills to Fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, Coast Guard,” March 12, 2026
House Appropriations Committee (Minority): “Republicans Block Bill to Fund Disaster Relief, Transportation Security, Cybersecurity, Secret Service, Coast Guard and More”
The Hill: “Senate Democrats block DHS funding bill for fourth time,” March 13, 2026
Emmer.house.gov press release: “Whip Emmer introduces SCAM Act,” January 20, 2026
H.R. 7156, SCAM Act, referred to House Judiciary Committee, January 20, 2026
US Central Command: Operation Epic Fury casualty updates through March 16, 2026
House Press Gallery: Next recorded votes Monday, March 16, 2026
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