Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, recently addressed the issue of government funding amidst a debate between former President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Trump's call to House Republicans to demand assurances on election security before passing a continuing resolution on the budget was met with resistance from McConnell, who emphasized the negative impact of a government shutdown.
Johnson expressed alignment with Trump's stance, emphasizing the importance of election security and the need for assurances in the funding bill. He highlighted the overwhelming public sentiment, with 87% of Americans believing that only U.S. citizens should determine U.S. elections. Johnson advocated for the SAVE Act, which aims to require proof of citizenship for voting, as a crucial measure to ensure the integrity of elections.
Citing instances of noncitizens found on voter rolls in key states, Johnson underscored the potential impact of illegal voting on election outcomes, particularly in closely contested races. He pointed out the razor-thin margins by which some congressional seats are won, emphasizing the vulnerability of the electoral process to fraudulent practices.
Johnson criticized Democrats for opposing the SAVE Act, noting that 198 House Democrats had voted against it without providing a compelling rationale. He called for bipartisan support for the legislation, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding the electoral system from potential disruptions caused by noncitizen participation.
In conclusion, Johnson urged for a unified approach to passing the continuing resolution to fund the government while simultaneously addressing concerns related to election security. He emphasized the imperative of upholding the principles of free and fair elections by implementing measures such as the SAVE Act to prevent unauthorized individuals from influencing electoral outcomes.