Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House will vote Wednesday on a six-month stopgap funding bill that includes legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. After facing opposition from GOP members last week, Johnson spent the weekend rallying support for the package. However, with Republicans holding a narrow majority and some members against short-term bills, the package’s passage is uncertain.
The federal government is at risk of shutting down on October 1 if a funding bill is not agreed upon by Democrats and Republicans. Johnson’s plan includes a half-year CR tied to the SAVE Act endorsed by Donald Trump, but it is unlikely to pass the Democratic-led Senate and has a veto threat from President Joe Biden.
Johnson urged his colleagues to prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections. Despite ongoing conversations with GOP holdouts, Johnson made no promises regarding the package’s passage. The White House and congressional Democrats are advocating for a shorter-term funding bill that extends past the election into December to allow bipartisan negotiators more time to reach an agreement on fiscal year 2025 funding.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Johnson’s plan, calling it a “no-go” in the upper chamber due to poison pills included in the legislation. Schumer warned against giving the hard right leverage to pass Project 2025 early next year by agreeing to a six-month CR, stating they are “dreaming” if they think Democrats will comply.
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