WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday yanked a government funding bill off the House floor hours before an expected vote after a growing number of disgruntled Republicans vowed to tank the measure.
Following former President Donald Trump’s lead, Johnson, R-La., had tied a six-month funding bill to the SAVE Act, which would overhaul voting laws to require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. But now Johnson’s strategy to avert a shutdown at the end of the month is up in the air.
“We’re in the consensus-building business here in Congress with small majorities,” Johnson said as he announced the funding vote would be postponed.
The speaker added that his leadership team will continue to work through the weekend to flip GOP defectors. The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 unless Republicans and Democrats strike a deal to extend funding.
“We’re having thoughtful conversations, family conversations, within the Republican conference, and I believe we’ll get …