Biden Vows to Veto GOP Proposal Linking Spending Bill to Voter ID Requirement

President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will veto a House GOP proposal combining a short-term government spending measure with a bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. The White House’s strong opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act signals another showdown between Democrats and Republicans as Congress races to avoid a government shutdown.

The GOP-backed proposal, H.R. 9494, would fund the government for six months and enforce voter ID laws under the SAVE Act. The Biden administration slammed the bill, with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) accusing House Republicans of using “brinkmanship” instead of working on a bipartisan plan to keep the government open and fund disaster relief.

"If the President were presented with H.R. 9494, he would veto it,” the OMB stated, making the administration’s stance crystal clear.

• The SAVE Act requires voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

• The GOP argues that this measure is needed to close a National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) “loophole” that could allow millions of noncitizens to register to vote.

• Biden’s administration claims the bill is “unnecessary,” warning it could purge eligible voters from rolls and complicate voter registration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been a vocal supporter of the bill, citing growing concerns over election security and potential noncitizen voting. In a white paper, Johnson pointed out that over 5.1 million foreign-born individuals have entered the U.S. since Biden took office, raising fears that the integrity of the 2024 election could be compromised without additional safeguards like those in the SAVE Act.

However, Biden and his Democratic allies argue that there are already adequate laws preventing noncitizens from voting and that the GOP bill is simply a tactic to suppress voter participation. The OMB also criticized the six-month continuing resolution tied to the proposal, stating it would harm military readiness and compromise national security.

The government faces an October shutdown unless lawmakers can agree on a short-term spending bill. Democrats are pushing for a three-month resolution, with a goal of resolving government funding after the 2024 election results are known. Republicans, however, are holding firm on a six-month extension tied to their voter ID demands.

Johnson has made it clear that he sees no “fallback position” in the negotiations. “This is a righteous fight,” he said, underscoring the deep divide in Congress over the direction of the country’s election security measures.

With both sides digging in, it’s unclear how the standoff will end. What’s certain is that the clock is ticking, and without a compromise, the country could be facing a government shutdown in just a few short weeks.

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