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Hakeem Jeffries rejects GOP spending bill as 'unserious and unacceptable'

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Hakeem Jeffries rejects GOP spending bill as 'unserious and unacceptable'
News

News

Hakeem Jeffries rejects GOP spending bill as 'unserious and unacceptable'

2024-09-10 05:57 Last Updated At:06:00

WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling it “unserious and unacceptable,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected on Monday a proposal from Speaker Mike Johnson that links continued government funding for six months with a measure to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

The response frames the spending battle to come over the next weeks as lawmakers work to reach consensus on a short-term spending bill that would prevent a partial government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Lawmakers hope to avoid a shutdown just weeks before voters go to the polls.

Johnson is punting the final decisions on full-year spending into next year when a new president and Congress take over. He's doing so at the urging of members within his conference who believe that Republicans will be in a better position next year to secure the funding and policy priorities they want.

But Jeffries said the appropriations process should be wrapped up by this Congress, and the short-term measure should reflect that. It also needs to be free of “partisan policy changes," Jeffries said.

“There is no other viable path forward that protects the health, safety and economic well-being of hardworking American taxpayers,” Jeffries wrote in a letter to House Democrats released Monday.

Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week following a traditional August recess spent mostly working in their home states and districts. They are not close to completing work on the dozen annual appropriations bills that will fund the agencies during the next fiscal year, so they’ll need to approve a stopgap measure.

The House bill including the proof of citizenship mandate for voter registration complicates the effort. The voter registration measure is popular with House Republicans and has already passed once before in that chamber. The House Freedom Caucus, which generally includes the chamber’s most conservative members, called for it to be attached to the spending bill.

Republicans say that requiring proof of citizenship would ensure that U.S. elections are only for American citizens, improving confidence in the nation’s federal election system, something that former President Donald Trump has sought to undermine over the years.

Opponents say it is already against the law for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and that the document requirements would disenfranchise millions of Americans who do not have the necessary documents readily available when they get a chance to register.

Trump and other Republicans have revved up their complaints about the issue of noncitizens voting with the influx of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border under President Joe Biden’s administration. They are contending Democrats let them in to add them to the voter rolls. But the available evidence shows that noncitizen voting in federal elections is incredibly rare.

Johnson called the proof of citizenship mandate a “righteous fight” as he entered the Capitol Monday afternoon. He said that even if a small percentage of people who have entered the U.S. illegally end up registering to vote, “they can throw the election. This is serious business.”

Senate Democrats have also come out against Johnson's proposal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the bill “pure partisan posturing."

“Speaker Johnson knows deep down that he needs to work with Democrats to get anything done,” Schumer said.

The White House said that if the bill reaches Biden's desk he will veto it. The veto threat said states already have effective safeguards in place to verify voters' eligibility and maintain accurate voter rolls.

“Instead of working in a bipartisan manner to keep the Government open and provide emergency funding for disaster needs, House Republicans have chosen brinksmanship,” the White House statement said.

The bill does provide an additional $10 billion for a disaster relief fund administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But the White House said it did not cover the full amount needed through other disaster relief programs, such as for highways and bridges damaged by disasters in 38 states.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that long-term continuing resolutions, such as the current one to be voted on in the House this week, harm military readiness. Austin said in a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that, if passed, the bill would mark the second year in a row and the seventh time in the past 15 years that the department is delayed in moving forward with some critical priorities.

“These actions subject Service members and their families to unnecessary stress, empower our adversaries, misalign billions of dollars, damage our readiness, and impede our ability to react to emergent events,” Austin wrote.

Associated Press congressional reporter Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., addresses the audience during the Teha (The European House Ambrosetti ) economic forum in Cernobbio, Como Lake, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., addresses the audience during the Teha (The European House Ambrosetti ) economic forum in Cernobbio, Como Lake, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

FILE - The Capitol dome on Capitol Hill is seen through a glass structure in Washington, on April 6, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - The Capitol dome on Capitol Hill is seen through a glass structure in Washington, on April 6, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — First came the medical timeouts, one each for Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune with the temperature above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) at the Australian Open. Then came the bizarre sight of a 20-minute delay because the net at Rod Laver Arena detached from the court after being hit by a big Sinner serve.

In the end, the breaks in action were “lucky,” Sinner said, because they gave him a chance to catch his breath, put his struggles aside and emerge with the victory — as he keeps doing, no matter the site or the circumstances. The defending champion moved into the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park on Monday by eliminating the 13th-seeded Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“I don’t want to talk so much (about) how I felt today. I was not feeling really well. I think we saw that today. I was struggling physically,” Sinner said, declining to say exactly what was wrong. “Playing against a tough opponent, but also playing against myself a little bit.”

The No. 1-ranked Sinner occasionally tried to cool off by pressing a cold towel to his face or pouring water down the back of his neck. He was far better down the stretch, both after a 10-minute-plus delay in the third set when he went to the locker room for medical attention and after a 20-minute holdup in the fourth when the screw connecting the net to the blue playing surface came undone.

“It was a bit helpful. I at least felt slightly better when I went back on court,” Sinner said about seeing the doctor. “I felt like the face looked a little bit better, the color was a little bit back.”

He's won 18 consecutive tour-level matches, dating to late 2024. Last season, Sinner went 73-6 with eight titles, the first man with that many tournament championships in a single year since Andy Murray in 2016.

That haul included Sinner’s first two Grand Slam trophies, at the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in September, the latter shortly after he was exonerated for testing positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March. His case is still unresolved, though, with a hearing scheduled for April in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal of the ruling.

In the women’s fourth round, 2017 U.S. Open runner-up Madison Keys eliminated 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, and now plays Elina Svitolina, a 6-4, 6-1 winner against Veronika Kudermetova. Five-time major champion Iga Swiatek had — no surprise here — an easy time beating “lucky loser” Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 in just 59 minutes.

Swiatek, who will face No. 8 Emma Navarro or No. 9 Daria Kasatkina next, compiled a 28-7 edge in winners and has ceded a grand total of 11 games through four matches in the tournament.

Sinner will play No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia or unseeded Alex Michelsen of the U.S. A second Italian joined Sinner in the quarterfinals when 55th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego got that far at a major tournament for the first time by ending the run of American qualifier Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Sonego will go up against No. 21 Ben Shelton, who advanced when 38-year-old Gael Monfils of France stopped because of an injury early in the fourth set. The 22-year-old American was leading 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 1-0 after nearly three hours when Monfils, who is married to Svitolina, quit.

The men’s quarterfinals Tuesday will be Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev vs. Tommy Paul.

Sinner said he showed up late at Melbourne Park and didn't hit before his match because he wasn't feeling great. The first obvious signs of trouble came at 3-all in the second set.

After lunging for a shot behind the baseline and stumbling slightly, Sinner clutched at his upper left leg and looked as though he might be bothered by some sort of discomfort, although it wasn’t entirely clear what was going on.

After Rune held there, Sinner walked slowly to the sideline for the ensuing changeover and was breathing heavily during the time between games. When play resumed, Rune earned his first break point of the match, and Sinner handed it over with a double-fault that made his deficit 5-3.

It was a muggy afternoon, and long, physical points left both players spent. After a pivotal, 37-stroke exchange in the third — claimed by Sinner with a cross-court swinging forehand volley passing winner after bringing Rune forward with a drop shot — each man leaned over with hands on his knees, gasping for air.

Then, during the changeover at 3-2 in the third set, Sinner asked for a trainer, and told a ball kid to bring him something to drink from his team. Sinner’s pulse was checked, and then he trudged off with a towel draped around his neck and a bottle in each hand.

When action resumed, Rune was the one playing a bit recklessly and without an effective game plan, and he got broken to trail 5-3 — then immediately requested his own medical check, during which his right knee was massaged by a trainer.

“It was, for sure," Sinner said, "very, very tough.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Iga Swiatek of Poland plays a forehand return to Eva Lys of Germany during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Iga Swiatek of Poland plays a forehand return to Eva Lys of Germany during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Ben Shelton of the U.S. serves to Gael Monfils of France during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Ben Shelton of the U.S. serves to Gael Monfils of France during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Ben Shelton, right, of the U.S. embraces Gael Monfils of France after Monfils retired during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Ben Shelton, right, of the U.S. embraces Gael Monfils of France after Monfils retired during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Learner Tien of the U.S. reacts during his fourth round win over Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Learner Tien of the U.S. reacts during his fourth round win over Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Lorenzo Sonego of Italy celebrates after defeating Learner Tien of the U.S. in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Lorenzo Sonego of Italy celebrates after defeating Learner Tien of the U.S. in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine sits during a break in her fourth round match against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine sits during a break in her fourth round match against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Madison Keys, right, of the U.S. is congratulated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan following their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Madison Keys, right, of the U.S. is congratulated by Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan following their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Holger Rune of Denmark plays a backhand return to Jannik Sinner of Italy during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Holger Rune of Denmark plays a backhand return to Jannik Sinner of Italy during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy is congratulated by Holger Rune of Denmark following their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.(AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy is congratulated by Holger Rune of Denmark following their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.(AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy talks with his coaching staff as repairs are made too the net during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy talks with his coaching staff as repairs are made too the net during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.(AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.(AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Holger Rune of Denmark receives treatment during his fourth round match against Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Holger Rune of Denmark receives treatment during his fourth round match against Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he talks with medical staff during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he talks with medical staff during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy walks back onto Rod Laver Arena following an injury timeout during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy walks back onto Rod Laver Arena following an injury timeout during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Staff work on repairing the net during the fourth round match between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Staff work on repairing the net during the fourth round match between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his fourth round match against Holger Rune of Denmark at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan plays a backhand return to Madison Keys of the U.S. during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan plays a backhand return to Madison Keys of the U.S. during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Veronika Kudermetova of Russia waves as she leaves Rod Laver Arena after her fourth round loss to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Veronika Kudermetova of Russia waves as she leaves Rod Laver Arena after her fourth round loss to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine celebrates after defeating Veronika Kudermetova of Russia in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine celebrates after defeating Veronika Kudermetova of Russia in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine plays a forehand return to Veronika Kudermetova of Russia during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine plays a forehand return to Veronika Kudermetova of Russia during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Veronika Kudermetova of Russia receives treatment from a trainer during her fourth round match against against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Veronika Kudermetova of Russia receives treatment from a trainer during her fourth round match against against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine writes a message on a television screen following her fourth round win over Veronika Kudermetova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine writes a message on a television screen following her fourth round win over Veronika Kudermetova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine gestures during her fourth round match against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine gestures during her fourth round match against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

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