Key Funding Bill Moves Forward Sans Trump-Backed SAVE Act

Capitol dome with American flag, under cloudy sky.

The House has advanced a funding bill without including Trump’s strongly supported SAVE Act, igniting discussions on the direction of the party.

At a Glance

  • Congress passed a funding bill to avert a government shutdown next week.
  • The bill passed the Senate (78-18) and the House (341-82), with all opposition from Republicans.
  • The bill excluded the SAVE Act, which mandates in-person verification of citizenship for voter registration.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson removed the SAVE Act after a previous rejection.
  • The bill funds the government at current levels through Dec. 20, setting up another spending fight before the holidays.

The House Moves Forward, Minus Key Trump Provisions

The House and Senate have successfully passed a three-month government funding bill designed to avert a looming shutdown next week. Despite former President Donald Trump’s insistence on including the SAVE Act, an election security measure mandating in-person citizenship verification for voter registration, the bill passed without this provision.

The necessity to avoid a politically volatile government shutdown resulted in the decision to exclude the SAVE Act from the bill. According to reports, Congress agreed that shutting down the government just before an election would be “political malpractice,” as stated by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Despite rigorous debates, Johnson emphasized the importance of maintaining government operations.

Political Ramifications and Party Unity

The funding bill successfully navigated through the Senate, passing 78-18, and through the House with a 341-82 vote, with all opposition coming from Republicans. The absence of the SAVE Act in the final bill has sparked significant discussions within the party. Johnson argued that maintaining GOP unity and avoiding shutdown ahead of the election were paramount.

“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent pass forward under the present circumstances,” Johnson noted to House Republicans. The bill, now headed to President Joe Biden for signing, ensures continued government functionality at current funding levels until December 20.

Looking Ahead to Future Battles

The bill, while lacking the SAVE Act, includes critical allocations such as $231 million for the Secret Service due to heightened threats. Despite former President Trump’s endorsement of a government shutdown to ensure the SAVE Act’s enactment, the bill strategically avoids this political risk by ensuring bipartisan support.

As noted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, “There will be no shutdown because, finally, at the end of the day, our Republican colleagues in the House decided to work with us… I hope this positive outcome of bipartisanship can set the tone for more constructive bipartisan work when we return in the fall.”

With both chambers soon to adjourn until after the November 5 election, the focus will shift to addressing the long-term funding and election security concerns, aiming to fix the challenges left unresolved. Echoing the sentiment of action over rhetoric, Johnson stated, “My personal opinion is, we were not likely to be able to get that, and the government shutdown was not going to be helpful to President Trump, let alone to our efforts to hold on to the House.”

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Sources:

  1. Congress votes to avert shutdown, setting up chaotic funding fight in December
  2. Congress passes bill to avert a shutdown before the election, sending it to Biden
  3. Speaker Johnson announces plan to keep the government funded until Dec. 20
  4. Mike Johnson defies Trump to pass spending bill without voting provisions
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