U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) speaks to reporters as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
CNN congressional reporter Manu Raju reported the unfolding drama on the House floor on Tuesday as Republicans are holding out on a funding bill that will aim to end the partial government shutdown.
Two conservatives were quick votes against it, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and John Rose (R-Tenn.). There were a few other holdouts, but top leadership appeared ro secure two yes votes, reporters observing saw.
Rose wrote on X that he's angry with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who promised if Republicans approved the spending bill, he would bring the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) for a vote. Thune has since changed his tune on it.
"Thune is already backtracking on what he reportedly told some House Republicans: that if we reopened the government, he’d keep his word and bring the SAVE Act to the floor. House Republicans MUST hold the line and refuse to fold on something as fundamental as election integrity. The SAVE Act belongs on must-pass legislation," Rose wrote.
"Thune says he hasn’t made any commitments to require a 'standing' filibuster to try to pass SAVE Act," Punchbowl News reporter Laura Weiss said earlier on Tuesday. "Thune says some Senate R’s have expressed interest in that option, 'so we’re going to have a conversation about it,' BUT Thune adds conference must consider ramifications [and] that it could tie up the floor for a large amount of time. Thune says 'the votes aren’t there to shorten the filibuster time.'"
"Yeah, hanging by a thread — that is really Speaker [Mike] Johnson's life in this razor-thin Republican majority where nothing is guaranteed. Even as something as significant as reopening the federal government. Just an hour ago or so, the speaker was extremely confident that he had the votes to for this critical first step to take up the larger funding package to reopen much of the federal government, which has been closed since Saturday," Raju reported.