Speaker Johnson May Combine Bill Requiring Voters Prove Citizenship With Short-Term Spending Measure: Report

 A Labor Day scoop indicated that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may add election integrity legislation to a short-term spending bill when the Housereturns to session next week — a move that would likely set up a standoff with Democrats.

Punchbowl News reported that Johnson — who released a document earlier this year that warned of a National Voter Registration Act “loophole” and cited evidence of noncitizens on voter rolls in various states — and other Republicans are talking about the prospect of combining an extension to government funding through March 2025 with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

The SAVE Act aims to require individuals show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in elections for federal office and pushes states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls. It already passed the GOP-led House in July with the help of a handful of Democrats. However, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not taken up the bill since then and the Biden administration formally declared its opposition to it.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), the House lawmaker who introduced the legislation, reacted to the Punchbowl News report on X, saying, “Recall – the ‘SAVE’ Act (I introduced it – HR8281) passed with 5 Democrats voting for it (and others privately wanting to). If they vote ‘no’ with it attached to a funding bill that funds government to March – it’s pure politics.”

Former President Donald Trump, who is running for another term in the White House, has urged Republicans to pass the SAVE Act. And the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative that includes Roy, released a statement in August calling for the SAVE Act to be added to any short-term spending measure that may emerge if lawmakers are unable to pass individual appropriations bills.

Congress has until the end of September to pass legislation to fund the various arms of the federal government or face the prospect of a shutdown. Democrats may support passing another continuing resolution, but the majority of them would likely not abide by the SAVE Act being attached to it. Some have argued the legislation is unnecessary and would create an undue burden on legitimate voters.

Still, the GOP seems prepared for a discussion. In response to the Punchbowl News report, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) posted to X, “Securing our elections from foreign interference with the SAVE Act is a top priority—and Democrats should have to explain to the American people why they are against it.”