The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus is threatening to derail government funding negotiations unless a short-term spending bill includes a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. This move, which has been dubbed the ‘SAVE Act,’ sets the stage for a potential government shutdown just months before the November election.
The group’s statement, released while lawmakers are on a six-week recess, demands that Congress pass all 12 appropriations bills to cut spending and advance their policy priorities. If that fails, they insist that any short-term spending extension, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), should extend into early 2025, preventing a “lame duck omnibus” that maintains Democrat spending priorities.
The Freedom Caucus’s demand directly opposes the wishes of many of their own GOP colleagues, including House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, who has expressed preference for a more bipartisan approach to funding. Cole, along with other Republicans, acknowledge the need for a short-term extension to avoid a government shutdown and potential furloughs of thousands of federal employees. However, they prioritize a broader, bipartisan approach, focusing on issues like disaster relief funding rather than the controversial SAVE Act.
The House Freedom Caucus’s actions underscore the growing discord within the GOP over government spending. The group’s insistence on pushing through their conservative priorities, even at the risk of a shutdown, highlights the difficulties that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces in managing his narrow majority.
While both sides have expressed a desire to avoid a shutdown, the political ramifications of such an event, particularly so close to the election, are undeniable. Last year, a similar spending fight led to the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy after he supported a “clean” short-term funding extension.
The ongoing battle over government funding is just one example of the heightened political tensions in Washington. With the November election looming, the stakes are higher than ever, and the House Freedom Caucus’s stance makes a government shutdown a real possibility.
