House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday withdrew a vote on a bill that would have maintained funding for federal agencies and programs for six months after it became clear there wasn’t enough support to pass the measure with the possibility of a partial government shutdown looming.
The bill, which aims to keep government funding flowing when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1, includes a requirement that people show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Sen. Johnson, R-Louisiana, indicated he hasn’t given up on trying to tie the two pillars of the bill together.
“There will be no vote today because we are working on a consensus in Congress, and that’s what happens with a slim majority,” Johnson told reporters outside the House chamber. “We’ve had thoughtful discussions, family discussions, within the Republican conference, and I believe we can get there.”
Congress needs to pass a stopgap spending bill by Oct. 1 to avert a federal government shutdown just weeks before the election. The bill was scheduled to be voted on Wednesday afternoon, but Democrats overwhelmingly opposed it and enough Republicans have voiced opposition to it that there are serious doubts it will pass.
The stopgap bill would generally continue existing funding through March 28. Republican opponents of the bill say it continues spending levels they see as excessive, and some Republicans won’t vote for any continuing resolutions, arguing Congress should return to passing 12 separate annual spending bills instead of the one or two omnibus bills that have been the norm in recent decades.
Despite the bill’s bleak prospects, Johnson said Tuesday he would go ahead with the vote. He accepts concerns that some migrants who have entered the country at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years could sway the election outcome, but it is illegal for foreigners to vote and studies have found such voting is illegal.
“Congress has many responsibilities, but it has two primary duties: to fund the government responsibly and to make sure our elections are free, fair and secure,” Johnson said. “And that’s what we’re doing.”
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require proof of citizenship, and Republicans believe it would be worth revisiting the issue and getting Democrats in battleground states to vote again.
Democrats are urging Johnson to “stop wasting time” on a bill that won’t become law and work together on a short-term spending package that has bipartisan support. After all, Democrats say, a spending bill can’t become law without bipartisan support and buy-in from the Democratic-led Senate and White House.
“Republicans should work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan bill — one that embraces both sides, avoids harmful cuts and is free of poison pills. We stand ready to engage with them immediately,” Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said before Johnson postponed the vote.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared to encourage a government shutdown if Republicans in the House and Senate “don’t get assurances about the security of our elections.” He said on social media platform Truth Social that the stopgap bill shouldn’t move forward without those assurances.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky pushed back when asked about Trump’s posts.
“Shutting down the government anytime is a bad idea,” McConnell said.
Freaking is a contributor to The Associated Press.
