Government shutdown still on after failed House vote
By Shirleen Guerra
The Center Square
A federal government shutdown still looms after the U.S. House failed to pass a stopgap measure before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
The six-month continuing resolution fell short by a vote of 202-220 after 14 Republicans and three Democrats defected across party lines over a controversial decision to tie voter ID provisions in the SAVE Act to the temporary spending plan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., buoyed by comments from former President Donald Trump, said linking the two issues delivers “what the overwhelming majority of the people of this country rightfully demand and deserve — prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections.”
While it's already illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections, Johnson made no apologies for the decision to combine the two, stating, "Congress has an immediate obligation to do two things: responsibly fund the federal government and ensure the security of our elections."
Specifically, the provision would require states to verify citizenship when registering voters. While many lawmakers believe uniting the two issues is necessary amid a heated and narrowly divided electorate, others see it as a political stunt.
"America is tired of the constant Trump-driven chaos,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wa, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Speaker Johnson needs to stop listening to the loudest voices on the furthest right, end these theatrics, stop steering toward a shutdown, and work with us to chart a bipartisan course forward. The clock is ticking,"
With the latest deal scrapped, it's unclear what direction negotiations will take as the Oct. 1 shutdown deadline nears.
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