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A2 u.s. news
Monday 9 SepteMber 2024
House Republicans push to link government funding to a

citizenship check for new voters

By KEVIN FREKING bill passed. That fight led just
Associated Press a few days later to eight Re-
WASHINGTON (AP) — House publicans joining with Demo-
Speaker Mike Johnson is crats in removing McCarthy
heeding the demands of the from the speaker's job.
more conservative wing of "As we have said repeated-
his Republican conference ly, avoiding a government
and has teed up a vote this shutdown requires bipar-
week on a bill that would tisanship, not a bill drawn
keep the federal govern- up by one party. Speaker
ment funded for six more Johnson is making the same
months and require states to mistake as former Speaker
obtain proof of citizenship, McCarthy did a year ago,
such as a birth certificate or by wasting precious time
passport, when registering a catering to the hard MAGA
person to vote. right, Democratic Sens.
Congress needs to approve Chuck Schumer of New
a stop-gap spending bill be- York and Patty Murray of
fore the end of the budget Washington state said in a
year on Sept. 30 to avoid a statement, referring to Don-
government shutdown just a ald Trump's "Make America
few weeks before voters go Great Again" movement.
the polls and elect the next "This tactic didn't work last
president. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, July 23, 2024. September and it will not
Associated Press work this year either."
Johnson's decision to com- They said that if Johnson
bine the proof of citizenship "drives House Republicans
mandate with government down this highly partisan
funding complicates pros- path, the odds of a shut-
pects for getting that task down go way up, and
done. The bill is not expect- Americans will know that
ed to go anywhere in the the responsibility of a shut-
Democratic-controlled Sen- down will be on the House
ate, if it even makes it that Republicans' hands."
far. But the effort could help Schumer is the Senate's ma-
Johnson, R-La., next year jority leader. Murray leads
should House Republicans the Senate Appropriations
retain their majority and he Committee.
seeks to become speaker The voter registration mea-
again. The vote also could sure is popular with House
give Republicans an issue Republicans. The House
to go after Democrats in Freedom Caucus, which
competitive swing districts generally includes the
as Republicans make immi- chamber's most conserva-
gration-related matters a tive members, called for it to
campaign cornerstone. be attached to a stop-gap
"Today, House Republicans bill that would keep the gov-
are taking a critically impor- ernment funded into early
tant step to keep the fed- 2025.
eral government funded Republicans say that re-
and to secure our federal quiring proof of citizenship
election process," Johnson would ensure U.S. elections
said Friday. "Congress has are only for American citi-
a responsibility to do both, zens, improving confidence
and we must ensure that in the nation's federal elec-
only American citizens can tion system, something that
decide American elections." Trump has sought to under-
Democrats will oppose the mine over the years.
GOP effort overwhelmingly Opponents say it is already
and warn that any continu- against the law for nonciti-
ing resolution must have zens to vote in federal elec-
buy-in from both political tions and that the document
parties. They said Johnson requirements would disen-
was making the same mis- franchise millions of people
take then-Speaker Kevin Mc- who do not have the nec-
Carthy, R-Calif., did a year essary documents readily
ago as he tried to placate available when they get a
conservatives. In the end, chance to register, say at
they rejected his efforts, forc- a concert, county fair or at
ing him to rely on Democrats a college voter registration
to get a temporary spending drive.q