Lawler Defends Voter ID Bill Amid Government Shutdown Concerns: ‘Reaffirming a Simple Truth’
Evan Vucci/AP
Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, found himself battling internet connection issues while sparring with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a discussion on Wednesday night. The two clashed over the looming possibility of a federal government shutdown, with Collins pointing out that Republicans were pushing for the inclusion of legislation addressing a rare crime that’s already illegal.
Lawler appeared on “The Source” to defend House Speaker Mike Johnson’s failed government funding bill. He supported the bill, which included the so-called SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote. However, Lawler acknowledged that lawmakers would likely pass a “clean” continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown, told CNN.
“The reality is we’re not shutting down the government with 48 days to go before an election,” Lawler said. He suggested that voters would ultimately decide the election based on key issues like illegal immigration and affordability.
As Lawler tried to address the “crisis” at the U.S.-Mexico border, his connection briefly dropped, causing an interruption. When the audio resumed, Collins questioned why Republicans didn’t simply push forward the “clean” funding bill if that’s what they expect to pass anyway.
Lawler defended his position, stating that the SAVE Act was a priority for him and other Republicans. “I think very clearly we should reaffirm the point that non-citizens should not be voting in elections,” he said, referring to a concern often raised by GOP members despite it being illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections.
Collins pushed back, pointing out that non-citizen voting is already illegal, especially in federal elections, and warned that Republicans could risk harming vulnerable members of their party by forcing a shutdown so close to an election.
“It’s remarkable to see that Republicans could shut down the government so close to an election,” Collins said. She added that pursuing legislation on non-citizen voting would be addressing a crime that’s already prohibited, making it unnecessary.
Lawler struggled with further audio disruptions but insisted on his point. “Kaitlan, respectfully, you can just dismiss it, but the city of New York actually tried to pass legislation to allow non-citizens to vote,” he said, emphasizing that legal challenges struck the measure down.
As Collins repeated that the issue was rare and already unlawful, Lawler insisted that the bill was “reaffirming a simple truth” and expressed confusion over why Democrats would oppose it. Despite Collins’ attempts to shift the conversation, the two remained locked in a debate until they ran out of time.
