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... Images of huge chaotic lines at major airports in Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans and New York City caused by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers calling in sick are rattling Republican senators who don't see an end in sight given the hard lines taken by both the White House and Senate Democrats during the funding stalemate.

While Republicans feel the shutdown was forced by Democrats, they also know their party owns the White House and both majorities in Congress and could suffer the blame " particularly amid the war with Iran that is already stoking political controversy.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a prominent conservative and an influential voice in the Senate GOP conference, has pushed colleagues to consider breaking up the Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund and reopen the TSA and other critical agencies immediately and use the budget reconciliation process later to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Cruz's proposal to end the five-week standoff by setting aside funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and reopening the TSA and other critical agencies is gaining momentum in the GOP conference. ...