Trump complicates Speaker Johnson’s plan to avoid government shutdown

The Hill ^ | 09/13/24 5:30 AM ET | by Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell

[RandFan]

But if Johnson heeds Trump’s request, Washington would head for a shutdown just weeks before the November elections. There is no appetite in the House GOP for that, with members worrying a shutdown — or even the threat of one — could harm their reelection chances.

“Senate Democrats refuse to pass the SAVE Act, which is shameful, and obviously the American people should hold them accountable for that. But we’re not shutting the government down with 54 days until Election Day,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said.

Asked on Fox Business about the political consequences of a government shutdown in the context of Trump’s Truth Social post, Johnson said, “I don’t believe it’s going to come to that.”

Republicans have sought to make the election-integrity portion the public face of the shutdown fight, pinning the blame on Democrats’ refusal to take it up — and Trump’s public demands have only amplified that.

But inside the Capitol, it is something of a sideshow as the House GOP plots a path forward on averting a shutdown.

Johnson is having trouble moving the CR-plus-SAVE Act out of the House as he faces opposition from hard-line conservatives who hate stopgaps, defense hawks concerned about the impact the six-month bill will have at the Pentagon, and moderates worried about the threat of a shutdown so close to Election Day.

None of the Republicans who announced opposition to the stopgap package were against the SAVE Act, which passed the House as a stand-alone bill earlier in the year.

[RandFan]

Hmm.. Shut 'er down, Freepers? Weeks before the election?

[z3n]

Why focus on the republicans?

You are doing the democrats a service.

The democrats are very very shrewd. They know that much of the public knows that republicans control the house (and if they don’t, the media will remind them) and if the government shuts down before the election, they can use it to affect house (and even Senate) races.

So the democrats figure they got republicans over a barrel.
Now, the weak knee’d republicans in the house want to cave in and give the democrats everything they want.

What’s the point of controlling the house if the minority dictates power?

[bert]

The point is President Trump

Fighting this CR battle is just stupid

[z3n]

The point is President Trump

Fighting this CR battle is just stupid

~~~

The CR has provisions to help (they don’t go far enough I’m sure) to help protect the elections.
Democrats wont have that. ... for obvious reasons

Let’s just cave in, because we don’t want to look bad, because we want to win eletions and keep the house and win the senate (EVEN THOUGH WE WILL LOSE BECAUSE OF VOTE FRAUD)

[OHPatriot]

WRONG QUESTION !!!!

We should be asking ALL Congress Pukes, “What’s more important to the country, PASSING the CR-plus-SAVE Act or protecting your sorry asses and not possibly impacting your re-election chances?

From the article, it sounds like “protecting their sorry asses” is more important than Election Integrity.

[nathanbedford]

I don't understand it either.

Am I misinformed, how can the Save Act be enacted but also enforced in time to cure voting irregularities? I understand voting will occur in many states before The Save Act could be enacted, is that true?

Would not a more sensible shutdown of the government have to do with the existential question whether we are to slide into bankruptcy with yet another CR that balloons the debt and hastens our end.

If we are going to shut the government down and take the political heat let it be for something effective. I am all for the Save Act when it is done in time but I am much more concerned about our looming national debt crisis.

[z3n]

You’re right.

But the other side says, “It will never get past the Senate or Brandon’s pen!”
Which is definitely true.

But I ask, why is it that the democrats have enough spine to risk the shut down, but the republicans don’t????

[jeffc]

The Dems are holding the Pubs over a barrel. Pass the SAVE act and make the Dems in the Senate block it.

Yes, the media will blame the GOP. Fight back! Stop being cheap folding suits!

[ComputerGuy]

I don’t give a rat’s behind about the save act. It’s nothing but a distraction.

[BitWielder1]

If the Save Act is attached to the spending bill, it won't be passed until after the election.
Or, the Republicans will blink and remove it, to "avoid a government shutdown".
I strongly suspect the latter will happen, because both D and R are equally scared that we won't actually miss the government very much.

[Brian Griffin]

This is a Democratic list of objections to the SAVE Act:

https://democrats-cha.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-cha.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/SAVE%20Act%20Section-by-Section_BRANDED.pdf

[Bookshelf]

You write: We should be asking ALL Congress Pukes, “What’s more important to the country, PASSING the CR-plus-SAVE Act or protecting your sorry asses and not possibly impacting your re-election chances?
From the article, it sounds like “protecting their sorry asses” is more important than Election Integrity.
Correctamundo!

[bert]

Tenneson was prescient describing a futile and suicidal assault like you seem to want

“Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

[Brian Griffin]

“we’re not shutting the government down with 54 days until Election Day”

He’s correct.

[dpetty121263]

Well the way things are heading Trump won’t have to worry about the Save Act...But there is still time to turn the Campaign around.

[Redleg Duke]

Source the Hill and you verify a lie.

[nathanbedford]

a futile and suicidal assault like you seem to want

This is the third consecutive reply in which you have failed to speak plainly.

Frankly, I have no idea what you're talking about in any of them.

[Socon-Econ]

Johnson either has the votes to attach SAVE or he does not.

[Brian Griffin]

Imagine 200 ballots received.

103 for Kamala, 80 in-person, 23 mail-in
97 for Trump, 97 in-person

Imagine 8 mail-in ballots were sent in fraudulently.

What should be done?

Debit 8 from Kamala’s count.

95 for Kamala
97 for Trump

If Republicans shun mail-in voting, then fraud can be dealt with.

What about Republicans that need to vote by mail?

They might photograph the presidential page of their ballot against something unique to themselves (part of their wood floor, the lower part of a damaged table leg of theirs, their voter ID) and e-mail that photograph as an attachment before the election to themselves or to a close relative.

That’s near certain proof. I think merely being a registered Republican and swearing you voted for Trump would be sufficient for a court.

Other ways include telling neighbors one voted for Trump or e-mailing before the election you voted for Trump.

[Racketeer]

It is too bad GOP voters will not call their GOP reps to let them know how important it is to shut the government down if this bill does not pass.

These reps know they will get your vote regardless. It is called leverage!!