Congress Strikes Deal to Avert Government Shutdown, Sidesteps Voter Restrictions

Congressional lawmakers have reached an agreement to prevent an imminent government shutdown, opting for a three-month stopgap spending measure that includes emergency funding for the Secret Service. The deal, however, notably excludes the stringent voter registration requirements advocated by former President Donald Trump.

This compromise represents a setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican colleagues, who had initially pushed for a longer-term funding bill with attached legislation mandating proof of citizenship for federal election voting. The Secret Service, established in 1865 to combat currency counterfeiting, will receive an additional $232 million to enhance security around the upcoming presidential election.

The agreement, brokered between Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, extends federal funding at current rates until December 20, 2024. This continuing resolution (CR) also facilitates expedited spending from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist natural disaster victims. FEMA, created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter's executive order, plays a crucial role in disaster response and recovery.

"While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances."

The deal sets the stage for a hectic week in Congress, with Johnson likely needing Democratic support to pass the measure. The Senate will require bipartisan cooperation to expedite the bill's passage before the September 30, 2024 deadline. This situation echoes the challenges faced during the longest government shutdown, which lasted 35 days in 2018-2019.

House Republicans had initially favored a six-month funding bill, aiming to push annual spending bills into March 2025. This approach would have allowed the next president to influence the debate and prevent an end-of-year omnibus spending bill, a concept introduced with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1980.

Trump had urged Johnson to include language mandating proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, despite noncitizen voting already being illegal in federal elections. It's worth noting that the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention the right to vote, and the National Voter Registration Act was only passed in 1993.

The compromise comes after a failed attempt to pass a six-month CR with voting restrictions, which was rejected by 14 Republicans joining Democrats. This internal discord within the Republican party is reminiscent of the disputes that led to the ouster of Johnson's predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, in October 2023.

As the U.S. approaches its 22nd potential government shutdown since 1976, the current deal highlights the ongoing challenges in the modern budget process established by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. With the November 2024 elections on the horizon, lawmakers are keenly aware of the political implications of their decisions, especially considering that the Speaker of the House is second in the presidential line of succession.

This stopgap measure, while averting an immediate crisis, sets the stage for further negotiations in the coming months. As the nation prepares for the 2024 presidential election, the debate over voting rights and election security is likely to intensify, echoing the ongoing discussions since the ratification of the 26th Amendment in 1971, which lowered the voting age to 18.