Update on the SAVE America Act
Representative Dusty Johnson from South Dakota recently discussed the necessity of math in the Senate for passing the SAVE America Act. He expressed that a sufficient number of Senate Republicans are needed to support what he termed a “walk the talk filibuster.”
During an interview on Breitbart News Saturday, Johnson noted how President Trump, along with his conservative supporters, is pushing for the Senate to approve this legislation, which Trump has identified as a “top priority.” The Act includes provisions like requiring ID for voter registration and casting votes at polling places.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate as a “message,” which means it could potentially pass with just 51 votes.
However, it’s important to remember that Senate Republicans typically need 60 votes to conclude debate on a bill, a process known as enacting closure. Senator Mike Lee from Utah has urged his colleagues to consider a “talking filibuster,” which is a traditional Senate method that prolongs discussions to wear down opposition. Those against ending the debate would need to keep speaking on the Senate floor.
Yet, Johnson raised concerns. He indicated that it seems there aren’t enough Senate Republicans willing to support a filibuster approach.
He mentioned, “Math is king in Washington, D.C. If you can gather 218 votes, you can achieve almost anything in the House. But without those 218 votes, progress is hard to come by. Yes, people focus on the 60-vote requirement, but the 51-vote threshold is also crucial. If you can’t reach 51 votes in the Senate, even with a filibuster, nothing moves forward.” His sentiment suggests they may not reach the necessary 51 votes to overcome the filibuster.
Support for the Act
On March 11, Mark Meadows—former White House chief of staff and now a senior partner at the Conservative Partnership Institute—compiled a list of Senate Republicans who advocate for pushing the SAVE America Act through legislative discussions. Among them are:
- Jim Banks (IN)
- Marsha Blackburn (TN)
- Ted Budd (NC)
- Katie Britt (AL)
- Bill Cassidy (LA)
- John Cornyn (TX)
- Ted Cruz (TX)
- Joni Ernst (IA)
- Bill Haggerty (TN)
- Josh Hawley (MO)
- Ron Johnson (WI)
- Mike Lee (UT)
- Cynthia Lummis (WY)
- Roger Marshall (KS)
- Dave McCormick (PA)
- Ashley Moody (FL)
- Bernie Moreno (OH)
- Markwayne Mullin (OK)
- Rand Paul (KY)
- Jim Risch (ID)
- Eric Schmidt (MO)
- Rick Scott (FL)
- Tim Scott (SC)
- Tim Sheehy (MT)
- Dan Sullivan (AK)
- Tommy Tuberville (AL)
This ongoing discussion highlights the complexities of legislative processes and varying opinions among lawmakers regarding voter identification requirements. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the Senate.
