House Republicans to vote on Trump-backed plan to avoid a shutdown despite defections
House Republicans will vote on a Donald Trump-backed plan to avoid a shutdown, tied to a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month is expected to go down in defeat on Wednesday, with an unlikely alliance of conservative rebels and defense hawks vowing to tank the package.
Following Donald Trump’s lead, Johnson has tied a six-month funding bill to the SAVE Act, which would overhaul voting laws to require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. But the expected rejection of the package will send Johnson, R-La., back to the drawing board with less than three weeks to keep the government’s lights on.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Democrats and some Republicans are pushing for a “clean” funding bill that would keep the government open until December, after the election.
The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 unless Republicans and Democrats strike a deal to extend funding.
Because of their miniscule majority, House Republicans can only afford four GOP defections if all lawmakers vote. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was hospitalized last night after collapsing at an event. At least seven other Republicans have publicly stated they will vote against a stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution or "CR," and many others said they could join them.
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