Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House will vote on a six-month stopgap funding bill on Wednesday, which includes a provision requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. The bill was previously pulled off the floor due to growing GOP opposition, but Johnson has been working to garner support over the weekend. However, with a narrow Republican majority and opposition to short-term bills, it is unlikely that the package will pass in the House.
The federal government is at risk of shutting down on October 1 if a funding bill is not agreed upon by both Democrats and Republicans. Johnson’s plan includes a six-month continuing resolution tied to the Donald Trump-backed SAVE Act, but it faces opposition in the Democratic-led Senate and a potential veto from President Joe Biden.
Democrats and some Republicans are advocating for a shorter-term bill that would keep the government open past the election and into December, allowing more time for negotiations on fiscal year 2025 funding. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Johnson and the GOP for attempting to pass a bill with provisions that are unlikely to pass in the Senate. Schumer emphasized that a six-month CR with poison pills will not be accepted in a narrowly divided government. He warned against allowing the hard right to gain leverage for their agenda in the future by agreeing to such a bill.
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