September 24, 2024
We have a deal to avoid a government shutdown.
It’s not the one the Republicans and former President Trump wanted but it’s the one they’re going to get.
That’s because the plan they originally wanted to avoid the shutdown — which I talked all about in this video failed last week when 14 Republicans voted no.
After that defeat House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was going to “draw up a new play”. And now we know what that new play is. He and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer jointly announced a short term continuing resolution that would keep the government temporarily funded until December 20th— mostly at current funding levels. This kicks the can down the road and push this government funding fight to after the election. The deal also includes more than 230 million additional dollars to help the secret service implement heightened security for those they are supposed to be protecting.
But the problem for the Speaker is what’s not included in this new deal — the budget cuts Republicans wanted and the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act is a Republican sponsored piece of legislation that would have required voters to show proof of citizenship before they’re allowed to register to vote or ask for a mail ballot. As I have reported repeatedly, there’s already a federal law that makes voting in an election if you are not a US citizen a felony. The thing is… former President Trump said if the SAVE Act wasn’t tacked on to the spending plan, republicans should vote against it and shut the government down.
Speaker Johnson tried that — it failed and so now he’s taking a different approach. He says at this point — the government shutdown is scheduled on September 30th and he said allowing that to happen this close to the election would be an “act of political malpractice.”
So what’s the bottom line? It looks like this new deal is going to pass. But Speaker Johnson is going to have to rely on House Democrats to get it over the finish line becuase he’s pretty sure lots of his republican colleagues will side with former President Trump and vote no. We’ll know more tomorrow. That’s when the House vote is scheduled. Once it passes the House — it should easily pass the Senate.
