House Republicans are looking to tie a government funding bill with legislation requiring people to show proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
It’s called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act and it previously passed the House in July. Republicans hope that by coupling it with a continuing resolution, Democrats in the Senate will be forced to pass it to keep the government open. It’s an idea recently suggested by Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R).
In a statement, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said, “We must ensure that only American citizens can decide American elections” – echoing comments he made earlier this year.
It’s a major gamble for Republicans as government funding is set to expire at the end of the month – risking a possible government shutdown only a month before the presidential election.