WASHINGTON—House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) intends to move forward on a short-term government funding plan despite opposition from some Republicans that might doom the bill.
“I’m in this to win it,” Johnson said during a Sept. 10 press conference when asked about GOP opposition to the proposal.
The plan, which passed a procedural vote on the House floor on Sept. 10 in a mostly party-line 209–206 vote, would extend the deadline to avert a government shutdown by six months to March 2025, a parliamentary measure dubbed a continuing resolution (CR). Government funding is due to expire on Sept. 30.
While there’s broad agreement in Congress on averting a shutdown before the election, the Republicans’ bill also includes legislation—the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act—that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Democrats have strongly opposed the measure, saying that existing laws already bar illegal immigrants from voting….