House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has delayed a vote on a government funding bill until next week due to Republican opposition.

The measure would fund federal agencies and programs for six months.

“The package would fund the government through March 28 and is combined with legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, known as the SAVE Act,” POLITICO noted.

Per NBC News:

Following former President Donald Trump’s lead, Johnson, R-La., had tied a six-month funding bill to the SAVE Act, which would overhaul voting laws to require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. But now Johnson’s strategy to avert a shutdown at the end of the month is up in the air.

“We’re in the consensus-building business here in Congress with small majorities,” Johnson said as he announced the funding vote would be postponed.

The speaker added that his leadership team will continue to work through the weekend to flip GOP defectors. The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 unless Republicans and Democrats strike a deal to extend funding.

“We’re having thoughtful conversations, family conversations, within the Republican conference, and I believe we’ll get there,” Johnson added. “People have concerns about all sorts of things. That’s how the process works and sometimes it takes a little more time.”

“This week’s production of failure theater has been postponed! CR vote canceled this week. Thank you to everyone who shared my speech Monday,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said.

“I refuse to be a thespian in the Speaker’s failure theater. The 6 month continuing resolution with the SAVE Act attached is an insult to Americans’ intelligence. The CR doesn’t cut spending, and the shiny object attached to it will be dropped like a hot potato before passage,” Massie said Monday.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has also criticized Johnson, saying that he is “setting up a fake fight.”

“Speaker Johnson is setting up a fake fight for the Save Act, which we already passed in July, to vote to extend the Biden/Harris budget. The American people are tired of being lied to. He needs to be honest with the American people about what he will and won’t do on September 30th. Conservatives like me actually care about reducing spending and using the power of the purse to do the right thing for the American people,” Greene said.

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“Here’s what you need to know about the CR + Save Act in the House,” Greene said.

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“FACTS: The SAVE Act passed the House on July 10, 2024, by a vote of 221 to 198 with 216 R and 5 D voting in favor. Don’t let anyone tell you it must be attached to an irresponsible spending resolution. If policy riders work so well then why didn’t we attach H.R.2 Secure The Border Act to secure border, or H.R.1 Low Cost Energy Act for energy dominance?” Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) commented.

From POLITICO:

While a government shutdown at month’s end is still unlikely and unwanted by congressional leaders, it’s the latest episode of Johnson’s repeated struggles this year to muster enough support to pass GOP spending bills, thanks to many of the same problems currently plaguing his conference.

Johnson and GOP leaders have indicated they don’t have a fallback plan to stave off a government shutdown that would hit in less than three weeks. The speaker continued pushing for the SAVE Act on Wednesday, even as he announced the vote delay.

“I want any member of Congress — in either party — to explain to the American people why we should not ensure that only US citizens are voting in US elections,” Johnson said.

Unless they can find adjustments to placate detractors, there’s an increasing likelihood that House Republicans will wind up saddled with a three-month stopgap spending bill backed by Democrats and the White House, free of any divisive policy add-ons. The Democratic-controlled Senate has not yet put forth its own official bill to keep the government open.

 

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