GOP fears over shutdown collide with SAVE America Act battle

Senate conservatives allied with President Trump are open to attaching the president’s top priority, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, to a stopgap measure funding the government past Sept. 30, but it is getting strong pushback from GOP colleagues who are worried it will lead to a shutdown.

Trump ratcheted up pressure on Senate and House Republicans to make another last-ditch attempt to pass the elections legislation during a primetime speech to the nation in which he asserted that 278,000 noncitizens are registered to vote in federal elections.

Incoming Senate Budget Committee Chair Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is one of several Trump allies open to attaching the SAVE America Act to a short-term government funding measure.

“However we could pass it I’d be in favor of,” Johnson told The Hill. “Exactly how we do that, we’ll see.”

Asked about attaching the legislation to a continuing resolution, Johnson said, “Sure,” but noted that Democrats would likely vote against such a package.

“That’s why I’m for ending the filibuster,” he said.

Republicans have also discussed moving the SAVE America Act through a budget reconciliation process, which would sidestep the filibuster.  

A Republican senator who requested anonymity said colleagues are looking more seriously at the continuing resolution as a vehicle, however, even though it could risk another government shutdown.

“It’s a path that people are trying to find to take, but I don’t know what makes that happen,” the GOP lawmaker said.

Congress needs to move a spending bill by the end of September to avoid a shutdown.

Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former Senate aide, said a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government “definitely” could be chosen as another vehicle to move the SAVE America Act.

“The House can put it on a CR, send it........

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