Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, emphasized the importance of secure elections over potential government shutdown politics in a recent interview. Roy expressed that his constituents prioritize honest elections and a secure border more than government funding concerns.
Congress members are set to return to Washington, D.C., next week with a looming deadline to reach an agreement and avoid a partial government shutdown by Oct. 1. It is likely that a short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), will be necessary to provide negotiators with more time to finalize spending priorities for fiscal 2025.
Roy and other conservative House members have been urging Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to combine a CR with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The SAVE Act proposes requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, the White House and Senate Democrats have dismissed the SAVE Act, and both sides are cautious about the optics of a shutdown so close to Election Day.
While Roy did not confirm his stance on a potential shutdown, he suggested that any blame should fall on Democrats rather than Republicans. He emphasized that their primary focus is on ensuring secure elections and that they are willing to fund the government despite disagreements.
There are discussions within House GOP leadership about pairing the SAVE Act with a CR through March, according to sources. Former President Trump recently suggested that House Republicans should consider a government shutdown if the proposal does not move forward.
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., has indicated support for a CR through December but expressed skepticism about attaching the SAVE Act, considering the need for approval from the Democrat-controlled Senate. Roy's remarks hint at potential challenges in funding the government for the upcoming fiscal year, reminiscent of last year's contentious battle that led to the removal of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
