Senator Lee Advocates for Talking Filibuster in Voter ID Legislation

As Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) pushes ahead with a vote on the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE), he is calling on Senate Republicans to bring back the traditional talking filibuster. His intention is to encourage Democrats to physically engage in the debate if they wish to block legislation requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voting.

“Over the last few decades, we’ve made it too convenient for people to filibuster while they’re not even present—sleeping, on vacation, or hanging out at bars. They don’t need to show up or actually speak,” Lee remarked during an appearance on “Jesse Watters Prime Time” on Monday.

“What we’re asking is simple: if you want to filibuster this bill, you have to physically be there, stand up, and speak,” he said.

Murkowski Disagrees on Voter ID Approach

The proposed bill would mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for those registering to vote in federal elections and has already garnered support from over 50 co-sponsors, which could help it overcome initial procedural challenges.

Lee contended that there’s no justification for any further delays on the bill and urged Republicans to be prepared for a robust debate in the chamber if necessary. “We need to vote as soon as possible because Americans want secure elections, and right now, those aren’t in place,” he stated.

Collins Boosts Voter ID Initiatives

“All this paranoia from Democrats is just absurd,” he continued, asserting that the aim is to “make voting easy and fraud difficult.” He believes that the SAVE Act effectively accomplishes both goals.

In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York has promised to oppose the bill aggressively, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper, “It will not pass the Senate.” He labeled the proposal as “outrageous,” suggesting it reflects a bias on the part of right-leaning politicians who, he claims, aim to disenfranchise poor and minority voters.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is reportedly working to challenge Democrats on the Senate floor, inviting them to explain to voters their stance against federal voter ID and citizenship requirements.