Acosta Comments On Johnson Decision To Pull Bill
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to pull a planned vote on a government funding bill has thrown Congress into yet another round of high-stakes negotiations. Central to this latest standoff is the inclusion of the SAVE Act, legislation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections—a move hailed by many conservatives as a step toward election integrity but denounced by opponents as unnecessary and harmful.
The SAVE Act, passed in the House earlier this year with narrow bipartisan support, seeks to tighten voter registration requirements by mandating proof of citizenship. While proponents argue it’s a safeguard against illegal voting, critics, including the White House and Congressional Hispanic Caucus, contend it’s a solution in search of a problem.
They argue that non-citizen voting is already illegal and that the act risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters, particularly those from minority communities.
Johnson has made no secret of his commitment to the bill. "The American people demand and deserve that we do everything possible to secure the elections," he said, framing the legislation as essential to restoring trust in the electoral process. However, he faces opposition not just from Democrats, but also within his own party. Key Republicans, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Jim Banks, have voiced resistance to tying the SAVE Act to a must-pass funding bill.
JUST IN: CNN’s Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter hold a struggle session after Elon Musk shot down the funding bill yesterday on X.
The two men, who are frequently accused of spreading fake news, said Musk was the one sharing “misinformation.”
The pair also fumed as were forced to… pic.twitter.com/Du63H7hUVO
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 19, 2024
Johnson’s strategy—to attach the SAVE Act to a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open—has drawn sharp criticism from Senate Democrats and the White House, who view it as a partisan ploy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has labeled the SAVE Act a “poison pill” and dismissed Johnson’s proposal as “transparently unserious.”
Adding to the tension, the House has yet to pass all 12 annual appropriations bills needed to avoid a government shutdown. Johnson’s earlier promise to complete this work before the August recess remains unmet, leaving Congress scrambling with the clock ticking toward the next funding deadline.
Johnson’s decision to delay the vote reflects his precarious position as speaker, leading a fractured GOP conference with a razor-thin majority. He’s tasked Majority Whip Tom Emmer with rallying support for the SAVE Act, but with House Democrats unified against it and moderate Republicans uneasy, the path forward is murky. The potential defection of just four Republican votes would sink the bill on a party-line vote, adding to Johnson’s challenges.
Former President Donald Trump has weighed in, urging Republicans to block any funding bill that doesn’t include “absolute assurances on Election Security.” This pressure from the party’s right flank complicates Johnson’s ability to craft a proposal that satisfies both hardline conservatives and moderates, let alone garners bipartisan support.