House Republicans are preparing to introduce a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government until March, but Democrats are already pushing back against the plan.
According to The Daily Caller, the main point of contention is the inclusion of the SAVE Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
Speaker Mike Johnson is set to present the CR next week, with the controversial SAVE Act attached. This move has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who are calling for a more bipartisan approach to government funding.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has emphasized the importance of bipartisanship in passing government funding measures. He pointed out that previous CRs have been successful due to cooperation between both parties.
Democratic Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray voiced strong opposition to the Republican strategy. Murray stated:
Demanding outrageous partisan poison pills is a nonstarter — we've seen this movie before and we know how it ends.
Murray further emphasized that Senate Democrats would continue to work towards bipartisan solutions to keep the government funded and pass responsible spending bills before the end of the year.
The SAVE Act, introduced by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, passed in July with support from 216 Republicans and five Democrats. Roy has defended the bill's inclusion in the CR, suggesting that any Democratic opposition would be politically motivated.
Roy expressed his views on the social media platform X, stating:
Recall – the "SAVE" Act (I introduced it – HR8281) passed with 5 Democrats voting for it (and others privately wanting to). If they vote "no" with it attached to a funding bill that funds government to March – it's pure politics.
This statement underscores the Republican stance that the SAVE Act has some bipartisan support and should not be a deal-breaker for the CR.
The current situation echoes previous difficulties in passing government funding bills. Last year, the House failed to pass all appropriations bills, which led to significant political consequences, including the ousting of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In recent history, the House has relied on multiple CRs to prevent government shutdowns. The most recent CR was passed on February 29, 2024, with three others approved earlier in the fiscal year on January 18, November 15, and September 30.
These repeated short-term funding measures highlight the ongoing challenges in reaching long-term budget agreements between the two parties. The inclusion of policy riders like the SAVE Act in funding bills has become a contentious issue, often complicating negotiations and increasing the risk of government shutdowns.
The proposed Republican CR with the attached SAVE Act has sparked opposition from Democrats, who view it as a partisan move. Senate Majority Leader Schumer and other Democratic leaders are calling for a bipartisan approach to government funding. Republicans, led by Speaker Johnson and Rep. Roy, defend the inclusion of the SAVE Act, citing its previous passage with some Democratic support. This situation reflects the ongoing challenges in reaching budget agreements and the potential for policy riders to complicate funding negotiations.
