(Patriot.Buzz) – Although the odds are not in his favor, House Speaker Mike Johnson is putting America’s interests first by vowing to include a proof of citizenship requirement for new voters in a crucial bill to prevent a partial government shutdown in a few weeks.
Democrats are largely against it and a significant number of Republicans have their own reasons for opposing the bill, which is dimming its chances in the House.
Even if it were to pass the House today, it would be a dead end in the Senate.
Emphasizing the importance of election security, Johnson believes requiring proof of citizenship could impact election outcomes significantly.
“If you have a few thousand illegals participate in the election in the wrong place, you can change the makeup of Congress and you can affect the presidential election,” Johnson stated. “The American people understand that.”
The stopgap spending bill narrowly advanced in the House with a 209-206 vote, though some Republicans who plan to vote against it in the end allowed it to proceed for now.
This bill would extend federal funding by six months, keeping government agencies and programs running until March 28.
Democrats are pushing for a shorter extension so the current Congress can set the budget for the entire fiscal year 2025 instead of leaving it to the next administration and Congress.
They also claim that the citizenship proof requirement is redundant, as states already have strong systems to check voter eligibility and maintain accurate voter lists.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the bill for being overtly partisan and unlikely to pass.
Meanwhile, a few House Republicans oppose the bill for various reasons. Some reject any continuing resolution, preferring that Congress pass individual appropriations bills.
Others argue the bill finances programs at levels they deem too high amid nearly $2 trillion annual deficits.
Republicans have a slim margin for error; they can only lose four votes from their party if all Democrats oppose the bill.
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has suggested that a government shutdown might be better than passing a resolution without election security assurances.
The upcoming votes on the citizenship proof requirement could put Democrats in competitive districts in a tough position, especially since five Democrats broke ranks last time to support it.
Copyright 2024, Patriot.Buzz
