The House of Representatives was the stage for a dramatic showdown Wednesday night, as a Republican-led spending bill, which included a provision requiring proof of citizenship to vote, was soundly defeated. The vote exposed deep divisions within the GOP and highlighted the potential for a government shutdown as the 2024 election draws nearer.
The bill, dubbed the SAVE Act, aimed to prevent a government shutdown while also pushing for stricter voting regulations. However, the strategy backfired as 14 Republicans joined with Democrats to reject the measure. This outcome exposed the fragile state of the House Republican conference, where differing views on both spending and voting rights have created a significant hurdle to passing legislation.
The bill’s failure underscored the long-standing divisions within the House Republican Conference. Some GOP members opposed interim spending bills, known as ‘Continuing Resolutions,’ outright, while others objected to the inclusion of the citizenship requirement. There were also those who questioned the feasibility of implementing such a provision before the election.
The vote also revealed that former President Donald Trump, who has been outspoken on the issue of voter fraud, was pushing for a government shutdown if the SAVE Act wasn’t passed in its entirety. His stance adds another layer of complexity to the already tense situation.
Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, who supported the bill, expressed frustration with the outcome. “We’re going to end up with a CR into December because certain people wanted to force this and be able to go out on Twitter and go down to the floor and pound their chest, that somehow, they’ve got the magic solution,” Roy stated. He criticized fellow Republicans for not offering alternative solutions while simultaneously objecting to the Speaker’s plan.
Rep. Cory Mills, a Republican from Florida, expressed disappointment with the way the 118th Congress has handled the entire session. He also questioned the feasibility of enacting the citizenship provision before the November election, adding to the growing doubts surrounding the bill’s effectiveness.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, who voted ‘present’ on the bill, saw the vote as a strategic maneuver by Speaker Mike Johnson to demonstrate his willingness to compromise. She believes that the Speaker’s next move will be to work with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown, a strategy that she considers historically consistent with his approach.
Rep. Warren Davidson, a Republican from Ohio, while criticizing the Speaker’s decision to push forward with the vote, expressed disappointment in the ‘surrender caucus’ within the GOP. He claimed that this group, consisting of members who he characterized as ‘bedwetters’ and ‘purists,’ were unwilling to fight for legislation unless it was perfect, ultimately resulting in concessions to Democrats.
The failed vote has now put the onus on Speaker Johnson to come up with a new plan to avert a government shutdown. With the deadline rapidly approaching, it remains to be seen whether he can pull off a strategy that can garner enough support to avoid a potential crisis just before the election. The Senate, meanwhile, is working on a separate interim spending bill that is likely to be passed with bipartisan support, giving the House a limited window to accept the measure or risk shutting down the government.
The political theater surrounding this spending bill has highlighted the challenges facing the Republican party as it grapples with internal divisions and external pressures ahead of a crucial election year. The stakes are high, and the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether a compromise can be reached or whether the government will face a shutdown just before the election.
