Johnson's SAVE Act Proposal Divides GOP

House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing significant opposition from both moderate and hardline Republicans over his proposal to attach the SAVE Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration, to a short-term government funding bill. Johnson's plan aims to extend government funding through March 2025 but risks a government shutdown if the Democratic-controlled Senate rejects it. Critics, including Representatives Thomas Massie and Matt Rosendale, argue that the proposal is a 'messaging bill' unlikely to pass and could harm Republicans electorally. Despite support from the House Freedom Caucus and former President Donald Trump, some vulnerable Republicans fear the political fallout of a shutdown just before November's election. Johnson's strategy places him in a precarious position, balancing demands from hardliners and moderates while facing a tight deadline to avoid a shutdown by September 30.