Trump's Hostage Tactics: Housing Bill Thrown to the Wolves in Voting War
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed on Thursday that a bipartisan housing bill would be sent to the White House, following a meeting with Donald Trump, who had previously yanked the signing of the legislation as a bargaining chip.
Trump's strategy involved using the popular housing bill to coerce lawmakers into prioritizing his pet project, the SAVE America Act, which aims to impose stringent voting restrictions.
This housing bill is intended to boost the construction and availability of affordable housing, a critical issue for voters facing skyrocketing living costs ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump's sudden withdrawal from the signing ceremony on Wednesday highlighted the fractures within the Republican Party regarding legislative focus.
His unwavering attention is on the SAVE America Act, which would enforce photo ID requirements for federal elections, demand proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, and obligate states to share their voter registration data with the federal government. Although this bill passed the House in February, it has stagnated in the Senate.
The relentless push for the SAVE America Act has resulted in severe congressional gridlock. Hardline Trump supporters, particularly U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, have effectively paralyzed House proceedings until the Senate takes action on the voter ID legislation. The Senate has attempted to advance this measure five times since March, each time failing.
After meeting with Trump, Speaker Johnson informed reporters that Congress would send the unsigned housing bill to the White House and move forward with other legislative matters.
Johnson stressed Trump's intent to eliminate legislative blockades from Republican members. "He wants to ensure that we stop any blockade in the House. Congress has work to do and that’s what we’re going to do," Johnson asserted, claiming they are "on exactly the same page." The White House has yet to respond to this meeting.
The clash over legislative priorities escalated when Senate Republicans met with Trump on Wednesday, only for the chamber to adjourn early for a two-week July 4 break without addressing the SAVE America Act.
Representative Luna, a staunch advocate for the bill, took to social media to declare, "I will not be voting to re-open the floor until the Senate gets back to Washington."
Democrats are staunchly opposed to the SAVE America Act, arguing it tackles a nearly non-existent issue of non-citizen voting and risks disenfranchising American citizens who lack easy access to identification documents. Critics also highlight Trump's unfounded claims that non-citizen voting contributed to his 2020 election defeat.
Some Trump loyalists propose attaching the SAVE America Act to a special budget reconciliation bill, which could pass in the Senate with a simple majority of 51 Republican votes, potentially bypassing parliamentary rules if deemed necessary.
House's No. 3 Republican, Representative Tom Emmer, indicated that Speaker Johnson might back this approach, stating, "You put it on the floor — this is what Mike Johnson is saying — you overrule the parliamentarian." However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other Republicans assert they currently lack sufficient votes for such a strategy.
With a slim 218-212 Republican majority in the House, Johnson can afford to lose no more than two votes on any measure facing unanimous Democratic opposition.
The ongoing legislative conflicts and Trump's 34% approval rating are pressing heavily on Republicans as they gear up for November's elections, which will determine control of Congress.
