The House voted Wednesday to pass a bill that funds the federal government until Dec.20 and averts a government shutdown at the end of the month.Once again, Democrats helped Republicans get the bill over the finish line, with all Democrats voting for the bill and 82 Republicans voting against it.Speaker Mike Johnson's push to pass a funding measure that included the SAVE Act -- a bill that would have required proof of citizenship to vote -- failed last week due to Democratic opposition and several Republican defections.
Earlier Johnson had pulled it from the floor when it was clear he didn't have the votes to get it passed.MORE: House votes down Speaker Johnson's funding plan as shutdown deadline approachesBefore the vote, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pointed out that it has been House Democrats that have helped Republicans avoid shutdowns during the current Congress."Can anyone name a single thing that extreme MAGA Republicans in the House have been able to do on their own to make life better for the American people? A single thing? Just one," he asked."Can the American people name a single thing that extreme MAGA Republicans have done to make their lives better? Zip, zero.
So that is the track record that will be presented to the American people," he said.Former President Donald Trump had called on congressional Republicans to allow the government to shut down over the SAVE Act.Johnson told ABC News, "I am not defying President Trump" when asked if the former president approved of the new solution to avoid a shutdown."I've spoken with him at great length, and he is very frustrated about the situation," Johnson said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday."His great concern is election security, and it is mine as well.
It is all of ours."Speaker of the House Mike Johnson meets with reporters after a closed-door caucus with fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Sept.24, 2024.J.
Scott Applewhite/APJohnson asserted Trump "understands the cur...