President Trump is signaling to his MAGA allies in Congress that they should not prolong the partial government shutdown in an effort to force the Senate to vote on a GOP election integrity bill.
A handful of House Republicans are threatening to block consideration of the government funding package if the SAVE America Act is not added. The recently revamped bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and an ID to cast a ballot.
Mr. Trump has said mandating voter ID in elections is one of his top legislative priorities, but he sent a message on Monday that Republicans should not use the must-pass spending package to force the issue.
The partial shutdown began at midnight Friday amid disagreements about the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
“We need to get the Government open, and I hope all Republicans and Democrats will join me in supporting this Bill, and send it to my desk WITHOUT DELAY,” he said on social media. “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”
The president’s post alluded to the push to add the SAVE America Act without directly mentioning it – something that would surely fire up the MAGA base that wants to see the legislation enacted.
“We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly,” Mr. Trump said.
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has been leading the push for House GOP leaders to attach the SAVE America Act to the spending package, which would require it to go back to the Senate for another vote.
“If they do not, these appropriations bills will FAIL,” she said on social media.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said if Republicans try to add the election measure to the spending package “it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown.”
“The SAVE Act would impose Jim Crow type laws to the entire country and is dead on arrival in the Senate,” he said, arguing the bill is about suppressing voters, not securing elections. “It is a poison pill that will kill any legislation that it is attached to.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, also advised against House Republicans making such a move, saying, “Right now, the goal should be to keep the government funded.”
Mr. Thune said the Senate will hold a vote on the SAVE America Act at a later date.
“That’ll happen soon enough,” he said. “It’ll be a function of when we can get time on the schedule. And who knows, maybe that’s in the context of another piece of legislation that’s moving through.”
