McConnell takes issue with Trump on shutdown: ‘Always a bad idea’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took issue with former President Trump’s call to shut down the federal government later this month unless the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is included in a stopgap spending bill. 

“A government shutdown is always a bad idea — at any time,” McConnell told reporters at the Capitol when asked about his comments. 

The leader was also noncommittal on Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) initial plan to put a continuing resolution on the floor this week that extends government funding into March and includes the SAVE Act. The attached bill would require proof of citizenship for individuals to register to vote in federal elections.

“I think we first have to see what the House sends us,” McConnell said. “And, of course, how to handle that comes down to [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer].”

“The first step ought to be what comes out of the House, and I think we don’t know right now,” he added.

Johnson continued to plow ahead with the plan despite mounting opposition in his conference. He can lose no more than four Republican votes, assuming the entire chamber is in attendance and all Democrats vote against it. 

As for Trump, he weighed in on the plan Tuesday afternoon, saying the Republicans should shut down the government if the SAVE Act or legislation related to “election security” isn’t agreed to down the road. 

“If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET. THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO “STUFF” VOTER REGISTRATIONS WITH ILLEGAL ALIENS. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN – CLOSE IT DOWN!!!” Trump wrote on social media.

A number of Senate Republicans have agreed with Johnson’s initial plan to attach the SAVE Act, but are more undecided on the length of the stopgap. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the top Senate GOP appropriator, told reporters Monday that she prefers a continuing resolution last until December so the new president, no matter the party, is not bogged down with a government spending bill in their first 100 days.