House conservatives ended their weeks-long blockade of the House floor, handing Speaker Mike Johnson a key victory. The blockade, which began in late June, was an effort to force GOP leaders to hold floor votes on the SAVE America Act and a sweeping border security bill.

Background

The House successfully passed a procedural vote, teeing up votes on an appropriations bill funding the State Department, legislation making Daylight Saving Time permanent, and a measure seeking to improve veterans’ benefits. Johnson agreed to pair the State Department funding bill with the SAVE America Act, prompting several conservative holdouts to flip their votes.

Reps. Randy Fine, R-Fla., was the lone Republican to oppose the rule, while all Democrats voted ‘no’ during the typically party-line procedural vote. The conservatives had blocked all major House legislation since late June in an effort to force GOP leaders to hold floor votes on the Trump-backed SAVE America Act and a sweeping border security bill.

Reaction

Some conservatives argued the House should do whatever it takes to get the SAVE America Act to President Donald Trump’s desk. Trump has repeatedly said the election integrity measure is his top legislative priority. The House Republicans’ slim majority meant Johnson could afford to spare just a handful of GOP defections.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.