With a government shutdown looming at the end of the month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took an early procedural step on Thursday that will allow the Senate to schedule a vote on extending government funding for next week.
Regarding government funding, it is unclear which chamber will take action first—the House or the Senate—but many legislators believe that House Speaker Mike Johnson will probably present a revised proposal to take the lead. Johnson has not yet stated his exact course of action, though, following the House's failure on Wednesday to approve a six-month GOP financing package that had a contentious provision aimed at restricting voting by non-citizens.
"My guess is the House will now, I hope, move to Plan B and give us something to work with," Senate GOP Whip John Thune stated on CNN. Regarding timeliness, Thune expressed his belief that the House will take action "early next week in time for us to act." It would be "helpful for everybody if the House goes first," he continued.
At a press conference, Schumer attacked Johnson's handling of the matter, claiming that the speaker "totally flopped right on his face" by attempting to pass the GOP plan but failing.
Schumer did not specify whether he has discussed future steps with Johnson personally or whether he is attempting to include funding for the beleaguered Secret Service or disaster aid in the plan. He declared, "I'm not going to negotiate in public on this issue."
In the event that Republicans are unable to pass the SAVE Act, their party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump, has threatened to shut down the government.
Numerous Democrats are advocating for a December extension that does not incorporate the SAVE Act, as it is thought to be unfeasible in the Senate.
"The Senate will intervene because House Republicans don't appear to have a strategy for genuinely keeping the government open," Schumer stated on the floor. "Both parties will be spending the next few days trying to figure out how to keep the government running smoothly. I'm giving the Senate as much leeway as possible to avoid a shutdown by submitting today.
Following his defeat on the House floor on Wednesday, Johnson declared he will "draw up another play."
Therefore, we will now revisit the playbook, write a new play, and devise a resolution. I've previously discussed a variety of concepts with coworkers. We'll go right to it; we still have time to make things right. Telling the reporters, "I'm disappointed,"
In the last weeks leading up to November, Johnson is facing pressure from both Trump's campaign for the SAVE Act and his tiny majority. The former president is also continuing to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.
Prior to the House vote on Wednesday, Trump stated on Truth Social that "Republicans should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form if they don't acquire the SAVE Act in its entirety."
When questioned about Trump's demand that congressional Republicans impose a government shutdown in the event that the funding package and the voting provision aren't approved together, Schumer answered.
As many of you have already observed, a large number of Republican House members are astute enough to predict that if there is a shutdown, it will be led by Republicans. that they are aware that the public knows Democrats oppose a shutdown. And they understand that Donald Trump is a complete moron when it comes to legislation," he remarked.
"There won't be a stoppage. There is rarely, if ever, a shutdown, according to Illinois Democrat and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin. "But it is really embarrassing for the Congress that we have to be on the verge of collapse so frequently."
