Janice R. Andrews
And in a shocking turn of events, former President Donald Trump has stepped up his calls for a government shutdown if the Republicans don’t include the SAVE Act in the current talks about funding. The problem started when Speaker Mike Johnson’s short-term budget bill, which was supposed to keep the government running until March 2025, was defeated on the House floor.
The bill, called a Continuing Resolution (CR), was meant to keep the government from shutting down by giving important departments more time to get their funds. But the plan was met with strong resistance from both Democrats and some Republicans. To address worries about people who aren’t citizens voting, the bill included short-term funds as well as the controversial SAVE Act. This law will require voters to show proof of citizenship in the 2024 elections.
Even though the bill was very important, all Democrats voted against it, and some very conservative Republicans even voted against it. They said that the bill’s rules were not strict enough when it came to money, which is why it was so shockingly defeated. There are only 13 days left until the current budget runs out, so there is more pressure than ever to find an answer.
Former President Trump has joined the fight and told Republicans to reject any bill for spending that doesn’t include the SAVE Act. Trump said on the social media site Truth Social that Republicans shouldn’t agree to any Continuing Resolution unless it fully includes the SAVE Act. He said that Democrats are letting tens of thousands of people who aren’t allowed to vote register, which he says will change the 2024 presidential race.
Speaker Johnson has had many conversations with Trump about the bill, but he now has to make a very tough choice. To keep the government from shutting down, he needs to either work out a deal with Democrats to pass a “clean” CR (one without the SAVE Act) or risk making Trump and his followers angry. The Republicans have a small lead in the House, with 220 seats to the Democrats’ 211, and four open seats. This makes Johnson’s job even harder.
Many Republicans are worried about what might happen if the government shuts down, which could hurt their chances of getting re-elected in November. Trump’s demands have made things even more difficult within the GOP, which puts Johnson in a tough spot. If Johnson can’t get enough Republican votes to pass the bill, he might have to rely on Democratic support for a “clean” CR, which could make some key GOP members dislike him.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and other Republicans are strongly against Johnson’s bill, which they call a “undead but doomed zombie.” Their disagreement with the bill’s spending limits and other parts has made things worse for the bill.
The funding date is coming up quickly, but the future is still not clear. Johnson’s skill at navigating these rough seas will be very important in deciding whether the government stays open or shuts down. Getting things done will be hard and have a lot at stake because of Trump’s impact and the GOP’s internal problems.
