House Speaker Revisits Spending Bill Related to Proof of Citizenship for New Voters – Boston Herald

By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday night on a proposal from Speaker Mike Johnson that would link federal government funding for the new fiscal year to a measure requiring states to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

Johnson withdrew the bill from consideration last week and said he would work through the weekend to build consensus among Republicans. It’s unclear whether he’s been able to do that, as some GOP members have concerns about maintaining current spending levels, but Johnson said he’s committed to holding the vote regardless. Democrats, meanwhile, overwhelmingly oppose the measure.

Requiring new voters to provide proof of citizenship has become a leading election-year priority for Republicans, who are raising the specter of noncitizens voting in the U.S. even though it is already illegal and studies have shown that such voting is rare. Opponents also say the requirement would disenfranchise millions of Americans who don’t have a birth certificate or passport on hand when they have the opportunity to register at a school, church or other location where voter registration drives are held.

But Johnson said that’s a serious concern because even a small percentage of people from outside the country vote could decide the outcome of an incredibly close race. He noted that Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa won back her seat in 2020 by six votes.

“This is a very, very serious matter and that is why we will do the right thing,” Johnson said. “We will fund the government responsibly and we will stop foreigners from voting in elections.

Johnson told reporters he was not prepared to discuss an alternative plan to fund the government.

“Let’s see what happens with the Bills, okay. We’re on the field in the middle of the game. The quarterback calls the play. We’re going to make the play,” Johnson said.

Lawmakers are not yet close to finalizing more than a dozen annual spending bills that will provide funding for agencies in the next fiscal year, so they will need to approve a stopgap measure to prevent a partial shutdown when the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the only way to prevent a government shutdown is for both parties to work on a deal. He said the House vote Johnson has announced is doomed to failure.

“The only thing that can be accomplished is to make it clear that this is a dead end,” Schumer said. “Instead, we need to have a bipartisan plan.”

The bill would keep agencies funded at current levels while lawmakers work out differences on a year-long spending agreement.

Democrats and some Republicans are pushing for a short extension. The temporary solution would allow the current Congress to craft a final bill after the election and deliver it to Democratic President Joe Biden’s desk for signing.

But Johnson and some more conservative members of his conference are pushing for a six-month extension, hoping Republican candidate Donald Trump wins the election, which would give them more room to maneuver in crafting a year-long bill.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky declined to take a position on how long the funding should be extended, saying Schumer and Johnson would ultimately have to work out a final deal that could be passed by both chambers.

“One thing you can’t have is a government shutdown. It would be politically untenable for us to do that right before the election because we would certainly get blamed,” McConnell said.

On Sunday, Johnson traveled to Florida to meet with Trump, who had earlier apparently encouraged a government shutdown if Republicans “don’t get assurances about election security.” Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social that they shouldn’t introduce a stopgap bill without such assurances.

The House approved a bill to mandate proof of citizenship in July. Some Republicans who see the issue as popular with their voters have pushed for another chance to show support for the initiative.

Originally published: September 18, 2024 at 12:06 PM