A Real Government Shutdown Could Be Caused by a False Story

A showdown over shutdown

There are many examples of previous shutdown confrontations that like this one: Republicans and Democrats are unable to come to an agreement on spending and run out of time. Republicans bet that Democrats will back down if they refuse to give in to their demands for concessions on a politically sensitive topic, in this case, addressing illegal immigration and voting. This is done in exchange for additional federal spending. Democrats scoff, betting that the GOP will take the fallout for imposing an unpopular government shutdown.

That’s how things transpired in 2018, when Senate Democrats hurried to end a shutdown dispute over immigration out of concern that it would harm their political standing.

Speaker Mike Johnson is hoping for a similar result this time around, as he is dealing with recurring demands from his right wing for a budget fight with Democrats. Republicans unveiled a package on Friday night that they intend to discuss next week. It includes a six-month spending extension and a provision requiring Americans to provide proof of U.S. citizenship at the time of voter registration.

There is currently no evidence of widespread illegal voting by noncitizens, and it is already illegal for them to cast ballots in federal elections. Nevertheless, Johnson believes that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also referred to as the voter registration law, is a political winner.

This year, the speaker posed the question, “Should Americans and Americans alone determine the outcome of American elections?” “Or should we let illegal immigrants and foreigners choose who represents us in the Senate, People’s House, and White House?”