House Rejects GOP's Temporary Spending Solution
The House of Representatives failed to pass a temporary spending measure on September 18, which was aimed at preventing a government shutdown. The GOP-backed proposal sought to extend the government funding deadline by six months, but was voted down in a 202-220 vote. Fourteen Republicans and three Democrats voted against the bill, while two members voted "present."
Details of the Proposed Bill
The bill, known as a continuing resolution, would have pushed the funding deadline from September 30 to March 2025. It also included the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would have required individuals to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Democrats largely opposed the plan, advocating instead for a three-month stopgap bill without any policy riders, a "clean" continuing resolution. They argued that the SAVE Act was unnecessary, as existing laws already prevent noncitizens from voting.
Republican Objections
The spending plan faced objections from various Republican factions. Some were against the use of continuing resolutions, others felt the spending figures were too high, and some believed that a six-month stopgap would leave the military underfunded for too long.
With the bill's failure, House Republican leaders now have 12 days to come up with a new plan before government funding runs out. Several Republican members have expressed their belief that leadership will ultimately adopt a clean continuing resolution with the help of Democrats.
Lack of Republican Consensus
The vote on the legislation was initially scheduled for the previous week, but House Speaker Mike Johnson pulled it from the floor early on September 11 due to opposition from both Republicans and Democrats. He stated that the bill was still in the "consensus-building" phase.
Opposition to Continuing Resolutions
Rep. Thomas Massie has voiced his opposition to continuing resolutions, insisting that Congress should pass the required 12 funding bills individually, rather than bundling them into continuing resolutions or large end-of-year omnibus spending bills. He referred to the dispute as "political theater."
Despite the inclusion of the SAVE Act to make the measure more appealing to Republicans, many criticized the move, describing it as a "show vote" that had no chance of becoming law or being implemented before Election Day.
Democrats' Opposition
Ahead of the vote, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, pointed out that it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. She described the bill as an admission that the House Republican majority cannot govern.
DeLauro also criticized the bill for abandoning the military, Social Security recipients, and cities and families dealing with disasters without any disaster relief.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had indicated that he wouldn't bring the bill to a vote in the Senate, describing the SAVE Act as a "poison pill." President Joe Biden had also promised to veto the bill.
Next Steps
The failure of the legislation brings leaders back to square one on funding the government. Of the 12 appropriations bills that need to be passed each year, the House has passed five, but none of these have been taken up in the Senate due to the inclusion of controversial culture war provisions.
The Senate has not passed any funding bills to date. Historically, when government funding comes due in September, lawmakers have punted the issue until the end of December before passing extensive omnibus spending legislation with the support of most Democrats and some Republicans.
Bottom Line
The failure of this bill underscores the challenges of reaching a consensus on government funding. With the deadline looming, it remains to be seen what solution will be found to prevent a government shutdown. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. You can also sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
