House Conservatives Push for Citizenship Voting Requirements Amid Looming Government Shutdown

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A government shutdown is looming next month if the House and Senate cannot pass a funding bill that President Biden agrees to sign. The House of Representatives is throwing a Hail Mary dream policy into the mix, pushing the sides closer to the brink. Conservatives will include more stringent proof-of-citizenship voting requirements into the must-pass government funding bill.

Stop-Gap Continuing Resolution as a Solution

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Congress agrees that passing a stop-gap continuing resolution is the best option for keeping the government open past September 30, when the current spending authority expires.

House Conservatives’ Strategy

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House conservatives are considering using their power as a necessary one-third of the equation to pass the bill. They are talking about including language barring noncitizens from voting.

Potential Impact of the Proposal

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Even if the measure is not included in the bill, it would still have a hearing, and Members of Congress would have to take a public position.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act

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The proposal in question is drawn from the language of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The House Freedom Caucus asked House Speaker Mike Johnson to include this bill in any government funding bill that would take shape this Congress.

Growing Support for the SAVE Act

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Some Republicans in the Senate have also voiced their support for the SAVE Act provisions as the legislation’s profile has grown in recent weeks.

Elon Musk’s Influence

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Billionaire technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has also championed the legislation, raising its profile nationally.

Speaker Johnson’s Position

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Speaker Johnson has not announced his intentions regarding including these provisions, which Democrats see as a potential “poison pill” in a must-pass spending bill.

Internal GOP Dynamics

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Many conservatives see the inclusion of the SAVE Act provisions as necessary for Johnson to maintain his Speakership in the next Congress.

Speaker Johnson’s Statement

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Johnson said on a press call that he intends to “build consensus to come up with the final decision. I can verify that the SAVE Act is a big part of this conversation. And it is not just the Freedom Caucus—members across the conference share our concerns about this.”

“And we believe it’s one of the—perhaps the most urgent issue, the most imminent threat facing the country, is the integrity of this election cycle.”

Senate Minority Leader’s Concerns

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According to Axios, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has cautioned against including the proposals in the Senate chambers. He is likely concerned about a protracted conflict ensuing, which could result in Republicans looking responsible for their intractability on an issue that could threaten critical government services shutting down.

The SAVE Act’s Legislative Journey

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The SAVE Act passed the House of Representatives earlier this year with the support of Republicans and five Democrats. President Biden has vowed to veto the legislation if it crosses his desk.

Provisions of the SAVE Act

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The legislation ensures that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections by mandating that states verify citizenship when registering voters and purging noncitizens from voter rolls.

Texas’ Voter Roll Actions

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This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his state had identified and eliminated one million ineligible voters from the voter rolls.

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