House Rejects Speaker Johnson’s Funding Plan Amid Shutdown Deadline

The House of Representatives faced a setback on Wednesday when Speaker Mike Johnson’s government funding proposal was rejected. The vote, which saw 14 Republicans opposing the plan and two voting present, resulted in a final tally of 202 against and 222 in favor, with a small number of Democrats also supporting the bill.

In the aftermath of the vote, Johnson expressed his disappointment but remained optimistic about finding a “solution” to prevent a government shutdown. He stated, “We ran the play. It was the best play; it was the right one. So now we go back to the playbook. We’ll draw up another play, and we’ll come up with a solution.” He added that he was already communicating with colleagues to explore various ideas that might come forward to address the situation before the impending deadline.

Johnson’s proposal aimed to fund the government for six months and included the controversial SAVE Act, championed by GOP leadership and former President Donald Trump. This act mandates proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, a measure that Democrats swiftly criticized, arguing that it was superfluous since non-citizens are already barred from voting in federal elections.

The Speaker had previously postponed the funding bill just a week before due to insufficient support within his party. Some Republicans expressed concerns regarding the financial implications, suggesting that the measure could exacerbate the national deficit. Furthermore, defense advocates voiced apprehension that such a short extension might undermine the Department of Defense’s operational readiness.

Despite the pushback, Johnson remained resolute about his measure and refrained from discussing any alternative plans. Congress faces a critical deadline of October 1 to approve a funding measure and avert a government shutdown.

Trump weighed in on the debate, urging his party to allow the government to shut down if the SAVE Act was not included in the budget resolution. He expressed on his social media platform that Republican lawmakers should not proceed with any budget agreement without “absolute assurances on Election Security.”

When pressed about Trump’s suggestion to let funding lapse, Johnson emphasized his commitment to strengthening election security, stating, “President Trump and I have talked a lot about this. We talked a lot about it with our colleagues who are building consensus on the plan. We all believe that election security is of preeminent importance right now.”

In a similar vein, Trump reiterated his stance on the eve of the House vote, insisting that the government should face a shutdown if the SAVE Act was not part of any funding agreement.

Amidst this turmoil, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell cautioned against the political ramifications of a shutdown, labeling it “politically beyond stupid.” Considering the upcoming election just seven weeks away, he stressed the importance of avoiding a government closure, predicting that Republicans would take the blame.

McConnell remarked, “I think we first have to wait and see what the House sends us. My only observation about this whole discussion is the one thing you cannot have is a government shutdown. It’d be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election.”

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats urged Johnson to rethink his funding plan and proposed a clean short-term funding measure instead. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made it clear that bipartisan cooperation is essential, stating that the only viable route forward excludes “extreme” measures like the SAVE Act.

Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the House to adopt a straightforward funding bill. He pointed out that pursuing proposals lacking broad bipartisan backing could stall progress and heighten the chances of a shutdown. Schumer asserted, “In order to avoid a shutdown, the worst thing our colleagues in the House can do right now is waste time on proposals that don’t have broad bipartisan support.”

The ongoing dispute highlights significant divisions within Congress as the clock ticks toward a potential government shutdown. With pressure mounting from both party leadership and public sentiment, the coming days are crucial for achieving a funding agreement that ensures continued government operations.

Source: ABC News