In a significant escalation of political tension, Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to his fellow Republicans on Wednesday, demanding the cessation of government operations unless Congress approves a contentious bill aimed at curbing non-citizen voting.
This development unfolded mere hours before the House was slated to attempt - presumably in vain - to adopt a six-month budget resolution incorporating this specific electoral measure. Trump articulated his stance via Truth Social, asserting, "If Republicans fail to secure the entirety of the SAVE Act, they must categorically reject any form of Continuing Resolution." This directive places an additional layer of complexity on the legislative quagmire facing House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is navigating these choppy waters with a notably thin majority.
The push for the SAVE Act by the GOP is essentially dead on arrival in the Senate, ruled by Democrats who favor a "clean" continuation of funding devoid of any electoral legislation as the sole path forward to dodge a governmental closure. Last week's withdrawal of a vote on this fiscal package by Johnson - after dissent within Republican ranks threatened its passage - underscores the challenges he faces. The urgency is exacerbated by conservative factions and Trump himself, who persistently casts doubt over electoral integrity ahead of November's elections.
Sources within the GOP disclosed to CNN that efforts to bring this bill to a floor vote aim to highlight its inevitable failure, thereby allowing Johnson to pivot towards an alternative strategy, though specifics remain nebulous. With government funding set to expire imminently, all eyes were on Johnson's next move following his ambiguous statements regarding post-vote actions and his extensive dialogues with Trump concerning fiscal matters and potential shutdown scenarios.
Trump had previously stipulated that without firm guarantees on election security from congressional Republicans, no funding extension should be passed. When probed by CNN's Manu Raju about adhering to Trump's guidance, Johnson acknowledged their frequent discussions on fiscal policy and election integrity, emphasizing consensus-building among colleagues and commitment to securing elections as paramount.
Amidst mounting pressure to preclude any shutdown - particularly with an impending election - various Republicans have expressed their intent to proceed with the vote and then adjust strategies based on its outcome. Representative Mike Lawler assured there would be no shutdown so close to an election day while Senate GOP Whip John Thune adopted a wait-and-see approach regarding potential implications for political fortunes stemming from such crises.
The controversial six-month budget proposition by House Republicans seeks not only an extension of governmental financing until March 2025 but also includes provisions for the SAVE Act—an initiative requiring proof of US citizenship for voter registration in federal elections—a redundancy given existing prohibitions against noncitizen voting in such contests. In announcing plans for this pivotal vote, Johnson highlighted Congress's dual responsibility: ensuring both responsible governance funding and electoral integrity—a sentiment seemingly echoed across party lines albeit through divergent approaches as noted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for bipartisan cooperation rather than unilateral endeavors doomed for deadlock.
This development unfolded mere hours before the House was slated to attempt - presumably in vain - to adopt a six-month budget resolution incorporating this specific electoral measure. Trump articulated his stance via Truth Social, asserting, "If Republicans fail to secure the entirety of the SAVE Act, they must categorically reject any form of Continuing Resolution." This directive places an additional layer of complexity on the legislative quagmire facing House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is navigating these choppy waters with a notably thin majority.
The push for the SAVE Act by the GOP is essentially dead on arrival in the Senate, ruled by Democrats who favor a "clean" continuation of funding devoid of any electoral legislation as the sole path forward to dodge a governmental closure. Last week's withdrawal of a vote on this fiscal package by Johnson - after dissent within Republican ranks threatened its passage - underscores the challenges he faces. The urgency is exacerbated by conservative factions and Trump himself, who persistently casts doubt over electoral integrity ahead of November's elections.
Sources within the GOP disclosed to CNN that efforts to bring this bill to a floor vote aim to highlight its inevitable failure, thereby allowing Johnson to pivot towards an alternative strategy, though specifics remain nebulous. With government funding set to expire imminently, all eyes were on Johnson's next move following his ambiguous statements regarding post-vote actions and his extensive dialogues with Trump concerning fiscal matters and potential shutdown scenarios.
Trump had previously stipulated that without firm guarantees on election security from congressional Republicans, no funding extension should be passed. When probed by CNN's Manu Raju about adhering to Trump's guidance, Johnson acknowledged their frequent discussions on fiscal policy and election integrity, emphasizing consensus-building among colleagues and commitment to securing elections as paramount.
Amidst mounting pressure to preclude any shutdown - particularly with an impending election - various Republicans have expressed their intent to proceed with the vote and then adjust strategies based on its outcome. Representative Mike Lawler assured there would be no shutdown so close to an election day while Senate GOP Whip John Thune adopted a wait-and-see approach regarding potential implications for political fortunes stemming from such crises.
The controversial six-month budget proposition by House Republicans seeks not only an extension of governmental financing until March 2025 but also includes provisions for the SAVE Act—an initiative requiring proof of US citizenship for voter registration in federal elections—a redundancy given existing prohibitions against noncitizen voting in such contests. In announcing plans for this pivotal vote, Johnson highlighted Congress's dual responsibility: ensuring both responsible governance funding and electoral integrity—a sentiment seemingly echoed across party lines albeit through divergent approaches as noted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for bipartisan cooperation rather than unilateral endeavors doomed for deadlock.
