U.S. House Speaker withdraws spending bill
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday canceled a six-month stopgap spending bill that was headed to a vote, undermining Republicans’ efforts to show unity in their plans , which includes a provision requiring registration to vote in federal elections.
House Republicans released the spending bill last week amid the heat of a presidential campaign that has made immigration a central focus, but it has no chance of becoming law amid Democratic opposition, a cool reaction from many Republican senators and Biden’s veto threat. administrative.
Some House Republicans also came out in opposition legislation.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters that lawmakers planned to work through the weekend to find a way forward on a stopgap spending bill and language that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.
“There is no vote today because we in Congress are committed to building consensus; as long as you have a slim majority, that’s what you do,” he said. “We’re having thoughtful conversations, family conversations within the Republican conference, and I’m confident we’ll get there.”
Johnson said Congress “now has two major obligations.”
One is to provide funds to the government before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1 to avoid a government shutdown.
Another is addressing concerns that non-citizens could vote in the November election, even though that is already illegal, he said.
“We will continue to work on this. The whips will do the hard work and build consensus. We will be working on this all weekend,” Johnson told reporters. “I hope members of Congress of either party will explain to the American people why we should not ensure that only American citizens vote in American elections.”
Republican presidential candidate Trump Post on social mediaOn Tuesday, Republicans should not vote for any short-term spending measure that does not come with a voter ID bill.
After news broke that Johnson was withdrawing his vote, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, called for bipartisan negotiations.
“For the benefit of the American people, Congress must abandon the House Republicans’ partisan continuing resolution proposal and begin negotiating an appropriations bill that can win the support of both House and Senate Democrats and Republicans,” she said in a statement.
“Now is the time for Chairman Tom Cole, Chairman Patty Murray, Vice Chairman Susan Collins and I to begin negotiations in good faith on a continuing resolution that will deliver the government programs and services Americans rely on. Continue to function while we complete our work across the board.
Senator speaks out
Sen. Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the spending committee, said she would like to see a stopgap spending bill that lasts until mid-December to incentivize Congress to complete negotiations on more than a dozen annual government funding bills this year.
Those talks were supposed to be wrapped up by the end of the month, but neither chamber has begun session talks, leaving a stopgap spending bill needed.
“I’ve made it clear that I think we need to get things done as quickly as possible and CR shouldn’t go beyond mid-December,” Collins said. “If it goes beyond mid-December, the new administration will be at a huge disadvantage because they will have to deal with issues going back to October of this year rather than focusing on the FY26 budget, which I think would be their preference.”
West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education spending subcommittee, said the Senate should wait a little longer to see if the House can advance a bill , although not indefinitely.
“Obviously they’ve had some difficulties, and that’s not surprising,” she said of the House. “We’ll just wait and see. If things get to a point where it looks like they can’t act, then we might have to step in, but I wouldn’t say that’s the preferred path.
Capito said negotiations for Congress to enact a stopgap spending bill every year after missing a deadline “often go much faster than you think.”
“messed up”
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. and chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee, said he would like to see a stopgap spending bill that lasts until mid-December, citing Defense Department concerns about a longer-term worried about the resolution.
“I hope to have the funding done by the end of September, but yes, the shorter the better,” he said.
Tester said he supports legislation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote but disagrees with House Republican leaders’ choice to attach it to a stopgap spending bill.
“I don’t think this should be in an appropriations bill. It just messes things up,” Tester said. “Let’s bring it to the floor and debate it. I will vote for it, even though it’s not necessary.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was not surprised Johnson had to withdraw the bill and encouraged him to draft a new stopgap spending bill needed to get it through a divided Congress of votes.
“Speaker Johnson should not just delay the vote,” Schumer said. “He should give it up – abandon his plan and start over.”
Schumer said he, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and President Joe Biden would “be happy to work with Johnson” on a bipartisan version.
