In a surprising turn of events, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) halted a vote on Wednesday that could have seen the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act incorporated into a spending bill intended to fund the government until March 2025.
The SAVE Act, if passed, would necessitate proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
As reported by The Post Millennial, Johnson withdrew the vote on the interim funding package that was to include the SAVE Act. The package faced considerable opposition from a number of Republicans, and as resistance from GOP House members grew, the likelihood of the package passing the House decreased.
Former President Donald Trump has been a vocal advocate for the package, particularly with the inclusion of the SAVE Act. However, the vote was abruptly pulled from the floor within hours. Johnson explained to reporters, The whip is going to do the hard work and build consensus. Were going to work through the weekend on that. No vote today, because were in the consensus-building business here in Congress with small majorities.
Just a day prior, Johnson had been pushing full steam ahead for the vote, despite the growing opposition from some Republican lawmakers. The package has been criticized by Democratic leadership and the White House, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) branding it as an example of "extremism."
Despite the setback, Johnson remains a fervent supporter of the SAVE Act, a bill that had previously passed the House independently earlier this year, but has yet to progress in the Senate. Upon announcing the withdrawal of the vote, Johnson reiterated his backing of the measure, stating, "I want any member of Congress, in either party, to explain to the American people why we should not ensure that only U.S. citizens are voting in U.S. elections."
Interestingly, a poll conducted earlier this year by McLaughlin and Associates revealed that approximately 86 percent of US voters concur with the statement: "Proof of United States citizenship should be required to register to vote in American elections." This suggests a strong public sentiment in favor of the principles embodied in the SAVE Act, despite the political hurdles it currently faces.
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