Republican lawmakers are divided on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s government funding proposal, which ties election integrity measures to the funding package.
Johnson’s proposal seeks to extend government funding until March, including a measure to prevent noncitizens from voting in the November elections.
Some GOP lawmakers oppose the bill’s provisions that would essentially renew all current funding until March, while others do not like the idea of tying voter integrity measures to the funding package.
Reportedly, 20 to 30 Republicans still oppose Johnson’s measures, prompting him to delay the House vote.
While announcing the postponement of the vote, Johnson stated that Congress is still in the “consensus-building business,” adding that he wants every House member to explain to Americans why they do not want to stop noncitizens from voting in the US elections.
Johnson said he would pass the funding package before the October 1 deadline.
While the government funding bill is an annual issue that typically makes headlines every September, this year is particularly different as failing to pass the bill will result in a government shutdown on October 1, just one month before the presidential elections, potentially hurting the reelection chances of House members, all of whom are up for election in November. Republicans are potentially more vulnerable to voters’ backlash since they currently control the House.
Republican presidential contender Donald Trump backed Johnson, urging him to “close (the government) down” until his party gets “election security.”
Some Republicans disagree with Trump’s position on the issue. Rep. Austin Scott stated that the GOP is already controlling the House by a slim margin, and if they try to shut down the government, Democrats will easily win the House in November. Scott further added that if Trump wins the presidency while Democrats control the House, a Democratic speaker could sabotage Trump’s agenda.
Meanwhile, Some GOP lawmakers also questioned Johnson’s decision to tie funding to election integrity proposals.
Far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene questioned whether Johnson was prepared to fight for his proposal until the end. She stated that if the speaker is not ready to stand up for his bill, the entire proposal would be “pointless” and a waste of everyone’s time.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers questioned the leadership of the current Republican lawmakers, who have engaged in internal infighting on various issues over the last two years. Far-left heavyweight AOC criticized Republican House members for failing to reach a consensus among themselves, stating that it speaks volumes about their lack of leadership skills.
The vote’s delay also means many Congressional lawmakers, who were planning to return to their home states for campaigning, will now have to spend more time on Capitol Hill.
