House Republicans push bill that links federal funding to a citizenship check for new voters

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson is heeding the demands of the more conservative wing of his Republican conference and has teed up a vote this week on a bill that would keep the federal government funded for six more months and require states to obtain proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering a person to vote.Congress needs to approve a stop-gap spending bill before the end of the budget year on Sept.30 to avoid a government shutdown just a few weeks before voters go the polls and elect the next president.Johnson’s decision to combine the proof of citizenship mandate with government funding complicates prospects for getting that task done.

The bill is not expected to go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate, if it even makes it that far.But the effort could help Johnson, R-La., next year should House Republicans retain their majority and he seeks to become speaker again.The vote also could give Republicans an issue to go after Democrats in competitive swing districts as Republicans make immigration-related matters a campaign cornerstone.“Today, House Republicans are taking a critically important step to keep the federal government funded and to secure our federal election process,” Johnson said Friday.

“Congress has a responsibility to do both, and we must ensure that only American citizens can decide American elections.”Democrats will oppose the GOP effort overwhelmingly and warn that any continuing resolution must have buy-in from both political parties.They said Johnson was making the same mistake then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., did a year ago as he tried to placate conservatives.

In the end, they rejected his efforts, forcing him to rely on Democrats to get a temporary spending bill passed.That fight led just a few days later to eight Republicans joining with Democrats in removing McCarthy from the speaker’s job.“As we have said repeatedly, avoiding a government shutdown requir...