As October 1 looms in the near distance, Congress is not seeming to come close to approving federal funding, threatening a government shutdown.
GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson is working to prevent this from happening, although his initial effort to please everyone does not appear very promising. The Louisiana representatives fellow party members are opposing his suggestion at growing rates, with little hope left to bring Democrats from both legislative chambers on board.
Lawmakers must approve the federal government’s funding plan before the start of the fiscal year, beginning on October 1. Johnson’s proposal would combine a continuing resolution (CR) of six months and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act. The CR would keep federal funding at its current levels for another half a year, giving Congress more time to finalize an updated budget while avoiding a shutdown.
The legislation is supported by Donald Trump and other advocates of border security and election integrity and would require in-person citizenship verification for everyone who registers to vote. Even if Republicans manage to approve the proposal, Democrats are likely to inhibit it from passing the Senate as they seek a 3-month CR without any policy strings attached.
But Johnson is persistently pursuing the proposal with no signs of backing down, even though Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is opposed to the plan and President Joe Biden is expected to veto it should it reach his desk. Earlier this week, Johnson informed the media that there “is no fallback position” and that his proposal is what citizens “demand and deserve.”
But despite his confidence and determination, Johnson is being met with significant internal opposition for a variety of reasons. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama and head of the House Armed Services Committee, noted the potential damage that it could have on the Department of Defense.
Additionally, Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Florida Rep. Cory Mills, Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, and Indiana Rep. Jim Banks—all Republican—have shared their opposition to the six-month CR and SAVE Act proposal.
