Special Poll
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has voiced his disagreement with former President Donald Trump’s suggestion to shut down the government later this month unless the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is included in the upcoming spending bill.
McConnell, speaking at the Capitol, made it clear that a government shutdown is never a good idea. He stated, “A government shutdown is always a bad idea — at any time,” emphasizing that it’s an approach he does not support, no matter the circumstances.
McConnell remained cautious when discussing House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) plan to move forward with a temporary funding measure that would extend government funding until March. The measure includes the SAVE Act, which would require people to show proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. However, McConnell was careful not to commit to a position, saying, “We need to see what the House sends us” and highlighted that decisions on the matter will ultimately come from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Despite opposition within his own party, Speaker Johnson continues to push ahead with the plan. With a slim margin for dissent, he can only afford to lose a few Republican votes to get the bill passed.
On the other hand, Donald Trump has been outspoken, encouraging Republicans to shut down the government if there’s no guarantee of changes to election security. Trump expressed his view on social media, urging Republicans to stand firm: “If Republicans in the House and Senate don’t get absolute assurances on election security, they should shut it down.”
While some Senate Republicans agree with the inclusion of the SAVE Act, there’s hesitation about how long the stopgap funding should last. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a senior GOP figure in budget matters, prefers the funding to extend only until December, so the next president—regardless of party—won’t be tied up with budget issues in their first 100 days.
This ongoing debate highlights the divide within the Republican Party on how to approach government funding and voter eligibility reforms.