House Republicans Defy Trump, Pass Government Funding Bill

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Home of Representatives on Wednesday defied former President Donald Trump by approving a authorities funding invoice and not using a crackdown on the imaginary menace of widespread voter fraud.

The invoice handed in overwhelming bipartisan style, by a remaining tally of 341 to 82, with 209 Democrats and 132 Republicans in assist and solely 82 Republicans towards.

The laws will now head to the opposite facet of the Capitol, the place senators are anticipated to approve it Wednesday night, averting a authorities shutdown on the finish of the month.

Trump has openly advocated for a government shutdown if Republicans omitted the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a invoice that might require People to indicate proof of citizenship after they register to vote.

“I might shut down the federal government in a heartbeat in the event that they don’t get it and in the event that they don’t get it within the invoice,” Trump stated final month.

Trump privately referred to as on a number of Home Republicans this week to push for brand new voting restrictions within the funding invoice, multiple sources told The Hill on Wednesday. Including such provisions to a funding invoice would all however assure a shutdown, since Democrats would refuse to assist the laws.

It’s already unlawful for noncitizens to vote, and so they hardly ever do. Nonetheless, Trump has claimed with out proof that undocumented immigrants might sway November’s election.

Opposite to Trump, many Republicans have stated that shutting down the federal government in October of an election yr is a dumb thought.

“I’m nonetheless mystified anyone desires to do it, not to mention 5 weeks earlier than an election,” Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) informed HuffPost on Wednesday.

Home Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) final week had the Home vote on a decision that paired authorities funding with the SAVE Act, however the bill failed, with nearly all Democrats and 14 Republicans voting no.

“This has been the least productive Congress in fashionable historical past,” Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) stated earlier than the vote on Wednesday. “The bulk can’t even persuade its personal members to assist its personal payments.”

Johnson has echoed Trump’s false claims that undocumented immigrants are voting in giant numbers. He instructed this week that he wouldn’t assist certifying the election outcomes on Jan. 6, 2025, if the election isn’t “honest.”

Requested Tuesday if he would certify a Trump loss, Johnson stated, “If now we have a free, honest and protected election, we’re going to observe the Structure, completely.”