House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made it clear—he’s not buying what Speaker Mike Johnson is selling. In a sharp rebuke on Monday, Jeffries tore into the GOP’s latest stopgap funding proposal, calling it “unserious and unacceptable.” Johnson’s plan, designed to sidestep an imminent government shutdown, pairs a six-month continuing resolution with the contentious Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill backed by former President Trump that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Jeffries wasn’t having it.
In a letter to his colleagues, Jeffries didn’t mince words, calling the proposal “partisan and extreme.” He argued for a shorter stopgap, one that would keep the wheels of government turning long enough for Congress to hash out a more permanent funding deal before the year ends. “We need to avoid a GOP-driven shutdown that would hurt everyday Americans,” he wrote, urging for a resolution free of the baggage tied to Trump’s Project 2025.
Just in: Dear colleague from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says the House GOP’s six month CR + SAVE Act is “unserious and unacceptable”
Calls for to complete funding “during this calendar year”
Keep an eye on the short term vs 6-month CR fight beyond the SAVE Act issue pic.twitter.com/mv5Q2NcBVo
— Emily Brooks (@emilybrooksnews) September 9, 2024
It’s not just Jeffries, though. He’s the latest in a growing chorus of Democrats who’ve lined up to take shots at Johnson’s strategy, joining the likes of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro. The general complaint? The SAVE Act, they argue, is solving a problem that doesn’t exist—non-citizens are already prohibited from voting in U.S. elections. What’s more, Democrats want a short-term funding solution to prevent Trump from gaining leverage over the 2025 fiscal budget should he win another term.
Meanwhile, Johnson and his fellow Republicans are standing firm, making election integrity a centerpiece of their agenda as 2024 looms. With Trump’s help, Johnson brought the SAVE Act to the forefront earlier this year, and now they’re sticking it to the continuing resolution, betting on the issue resonating with their base.
The stakes are high for Johnson. With a razor-thin majority in the House, Republicans can only afford to lose a handful of their own votes. And two GOP representatives—Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Matt Rosendale of Montana—are already saying “no” to Johnson’s plan. Others within the party have expressed doubts too, casting uncertainty over whether the bill will survive the vote.
The government has been hurting all Americans for the last 3.5 years.
Hakeem Jeffries and his far-left ilk, along with RINO Republicans, have let in over 10 million illegals.
The DC Uniparty got Americans like Laken Riley k*ll*d.
She will not be forgotten.
Laken is watching. pic.twitter.com/ULvE2b5qqB
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) September 8, 2024
On the Democratic side, unity isn’t guaranteed either. A small group of House Democrats voted for the SAVE Act back in July when it stood alone. Now, Representatives like Henry Cuellar of Texas and Jared Golden of Maine, all of whom are facing tight races in November, are feeling the heat from Republicans to back the combined legislation.
Even if Johnson manages to squeak out a victory in the House, the bill’s future in the Senate is already doomed. Schumer was blunt in his message to fellow Democrats: “We’re not letting Republican extremism endanger critical programs with this.” Still, a House win could give Johnson some leverage as negotiations with Senate Democrats begin.
The political tension is palpable, with both sides digging in and the clock ticking closer to another government funding crisis. Whether Johnson can pull this off remains to be seen, but the battle lines are drawn, and it’s anyone’s guess how this will unfold.
Major Points
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Speaker Mike Johnson’s stopgap funding plan, which includes the controversial Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
- Jeffries labeled the proposal “unserious and unacceptable,” pushing instead for a short-term solution to avoid a government shutdown without election-related conditions.
- Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, argue that the SAVE Act, which mandates proof of citizenship to vote, addresses a non-existent issue, while Republicans prioritize election integrity.
- GOP infighting poses a challenge for Johnson, as some Republican representatives are already voicing opposition to the bill.
- Even if the bill passes in the House, it faces near-certain rejection in the Senate, with Schumer warning against Republican “extremism.”
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
