House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House will vote on a six-month stopgap funding bill tied to legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. This comes after he pulled the same package off the floor last week due to growing GOP opposition. Johnson spent the weekend trying to persuade Republicans to support the bill, but with a narrow majority and some members against short-term bills, passing the package is unlikely. The federal government faces a shutdown on October 1 if no funding bill is agreed upon.
The six-month continuing resolution (CR) with the SAVE Act, supported by former President Donald Trump, faces opposition in the Democratic-led Senate and a veto threat from President Joe Biden. Johnson emphasized the importance of securing elections and preventing non-citizens from voting. Despite his efforts to gather support, he did not make any promises on the bill’s passage.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Johnson’s strategy and urged for bipartisan cooperation to prevent a government shutdown. While Trump has called for a shutdown if the SAVE Act isn’t passed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned against it, saying it would be politically damaging for Republicans. Democrats and some Republicans are advocating for a shorter-term bill to extend government funding past the election, providing more time for negotiations on the fiscal year 2025 budget. Schumer emphasized the need for bipartisan collaboration to reach an agreement and prevent a harmful shutdown.
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