In the upcoming days, you can expect to hear Republicans in Congress emphasizing the significance of the SAVE America Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for voting.
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) expressed, “We need to make it easier to vote in America and harder to commit fraud.” Similarly, Sen. Rick Scott from Florida said on Fox News, “The SAVE America Act is an important bill. So we have to figure out how to get it through.”
The challenge for Senate Republicans lies in how to pass the legislation. The SAVE America Act is a key part of former President Donald Trump’s agenda. He has indicated he won’t sign any other bills, except perhaps those related to DHS funding, until his conditions are met.
While Republicans concur on the bill’s significance, they are struggling to unite, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D., promising a thorough debate, but noting that they face difficulties overcoming the Democratic filibuster.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) remarked, “This is one of the worst things we’ve seen in America in a long time.” Meanwhile, Sen. Dick Durbin also suggested that the bill’s aim is to reduce voter turnout in the upcoming November election.
Breaking a filibuster requires 60 votes, yet Republicans only hold 53 seats in the Senate. This has led some within the party to suggest abolishing the filibuster altogether.
Republican Sen. Roger Marshall stated, “I will nuke the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act.” There’s a sense of urgency among conservatives, who are urging Thune to take decisive action against the filibuster to prevent Democrats from regaining a majority.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) remarked, “If they get a majority in the Senate, this is the only way to stop the filibuster.” Others, like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), prefer a more traditional approach of forcing Democrats to actively filibuster until exhaustion. He stated, “They can talk all they want, but time will run out.”
If there’s a consensus after prolonged debates, the Senate could proceed without a test vote to break the filibuster but would need 60 affirmative votes for passage, allowing a simple majority of 51 to succeed.
Many Republicans are evoking Frank Capra’s classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” envisioning a scenario reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart’s character filibustering until collapse. It raises an interesting image, where Sen. Eric Schmidt from Missouri indicated they’d need to endure a lengthy debate akin to that iconic moment.
However, most of the party seems less inclined toward the romanticized version of filibustering and more focused on avoiding an open-ended amendment process. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) suggested that he believes the proposed talking filibuster would bring considerable chaos and uncertainty.
Thune plans to control the situation, preventing immediate tests to end debates and rejecting all amendments from either side, emphasizing that it’s all about numbers. Even though discussions about the SAVE Act will continue, sufficient Republican support to alter filibuster rules appears lacking.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-Virginia) highlighted that many don’t believe in revoking the filibuster since it is a safeguard for minority rights. She mentioned that while there is determination to tackle the SAVE America Act, the numbers simply aren’t there to enact the changes needed for the filibuster.
Pressure is mounting from Trump and other conservatives on Thune as the discussions unfold. Thune himself has been criticized, though some, like Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), defended him: “It’s not John Thune who’s killing this issue.” She believes that without passing the SAVE Act, other matters in the Senate could also face delays.
Although the former president hasn’t called out Thune specifically, his criticisms towards Senate leadership in the past suggest frustration could arise. Lummis further expressed hope that Thune can pull off an impressive move, saying, “I once saw John Thune pull a rabbit out of a hat, and I hope there’s a rabbit in this hat.” The Senate plans to have a test vote soon to kick off consideration of this bill, which will require a simple majority to proceed.
In the backdrop, the chances of changing Senate precedents are slim without significant Republican support, potentially leading to backlash if the SAVE America Act fails to pass.
