House vote fails/ proof of citizenship bill/ government shutdown threat/ funding bill rejected/ Newslooks/ Washington/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The House of Representatives voted down a temporary funding bill on Wednesday, which linked government funding to a controversial proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration. The bill’s defeat, with bipartisan opposition, leaves the path to avoiding a government shutdown unclear as the October 1 deadline approaches.
House Defeats Funding Bill Amid Citizenship Voting Controversy: Quick Looks
- Bill Rejected: A temporary funding bill tied to proof of citizenship for voter registration failed in the House, with bipartisan opposition.
- Government Shutdown Threat: Lawmakers are still scrambling to prevent a partial government shutdown before the new fiscal year begins on October 1.
- Citizenship Mandate: Republicans pushed the bill to address concerns about noncitizens voting, despite research showing such instances are rare.
- Next Steps: House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to work on alternative solutions to avoid the shutdown.
House Rejects GOP-Backed Funding Bill with Citizenship Voting Mandate
Deep Look:
In a critical vote on Wednesday, the House of Representatives rejected a temporary funding bill that tied federal government funding to a proof of citizenship mandate for voter registration. With the October 1 deadline fast approaching, the failure of this proposal brings the federal government one step closer to a partial shutdown unless a new stopgap funding measure is passed.
The vote on the bill was 220-202, with 14 Republicans and nearly all Democrats voting against it. The bill, spearheaded by House Speaker Mike Johnson, was intended to keep government agencies funded through March 28 while Republicans worked to enforce stricter voter registration requirements. Johnson expressed disappointment but stated that he and other lawmakers would explore alternative options to prevent a shutdown.
“We’ll draw up another play and come up with a solution,” Johnson said after the vote. “We have time to fix the situation, and we’ll get right to it.”
The bill’s failure stems from several objections within the Republican Party itself. Some GOP members opposed the spending levels proposed in the bill, while others rejected the idea of temporary stopgap measures altogether, advocating instead for passing annual appropriations bills individually. Meanwhile, Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the proof of citizenship requirement, arguing that it would disenfranchise millions of voters who may not have access to documentation like birth certificates or passports.
The proof of citizenship mandate has become a central issue for Republicans, who argue that even rare instances of noncitizen voting could sway election outcomes. They cite cases such as Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ narrow six-vote victory in Iowa in 2020 as evidence of the importance of election security. Johnson stated that even a small percentage of noncitizen votes could tip the balance in closely contested races.
Despite these claims, opponents of the bill argue that the requirement would unfairly target eligible voters and could create unnecessary barriers to voting. Democrats, in particular, criticized the measure as politically motivated. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., condemned the bill, calling it “Republican theatrics” designed to cater to former President Donald Trump’s base.
Trump has publicly encouraged House Republicans to hold firm on the issue, advocating for the inclusion of the proof of citizenship mandate in any government funding resolution. Hours before the vote, Trump took to social media, urging Republicans to reject any continuing resolution without the mandate, which has been dubbed the SAVE Act.
“If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The Senate, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has also signaled opposition to the bill, calling it a “dead end.” Schumer stressed the need for bipartisan cooperation and predicted the bill’s defeat, warning that a government shutdown could be imminent without a compromise.
At stake is the immediate funding of federal agencies. The rejected bill would have kept the government operating at current levels through March 2025, while lawmakers debated long-term appropriations bills. Democrats and some Republicans had pushed for a shorter extension, arguing that it would allow Congress to address the budget after the upcoming election. However, Johnson and more conservative Republicans advocated for a longer extension, hoping that a potential Trump victory in the presidential election would give them more leverage in crafting future spending bills.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., expressed concern over the possibility of a shutdown, calling it “politically beyond stupid” and warning that Republicans could bear the blame in an election year. McConnell encouraged both the House and Senate to work toward a bipartisan agreement.
Despite the failure of the funding bill, some lawmakers remain hopeful that a last-minute solution can be reached to prevent a government shutdown. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., sought to ease fears, stating that another stopgap measure could still be voted on to give lawmakers more time to finalize their appropriations work.
“The bottom line is we’re not shutting the government down,” Lawler said.
However, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was less optimistic, accusing Republicans of intentionally pushing toward a shutdown. “In the DNA of extreme MAGA Republicans has consistently been an effort to make extreme ransom demands of the American people,” Jeffries said, “and if those demands are not met, shut down the government.”
The current impasse highlights the deep political divide over issues such as voting rights and election security. The House previously passed a bill with the proof of citizenship requirement in July, and many Republicans have pushed for another opportunity to back the measure.
Some Republicans argue that recent voter roll audits in states like Alabama demonstrate the need for stronger voter registration laws. In Alabama, the secretary of state flagged over 3,000 noncitizens for possible removal from voter rolls. Voting rights groups have filed lawsuits, accusing the state of targeting naturalized citizens.
“These people should never have been allowed to register in the first place,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., a strong proponent of the SAVE Act.
As the clock ticks toward the October 1 deadline, Congress faces mounting pressure to resolve the budget dispute and avert a government shutdown that could affect millions of Americans.
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