Vince Coglianese Criticizes Senate GOP for Avoiding Voter ID Filibuster

Discussion on the SAVE Act

During a recent episode of “Vince,” Vince Collanese, the Editorial Director at Daily Caller, expressed strong criticism towards Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the Republican Party for not prioritizing the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

Sahil Kapur, a senior national affairs correspondent for NBC News, noted on Tuesday that he preferred to focus Senate time elsewhere, mentioning other pressing legislative issues such as sanctions against Russia. Collanese pushed back against Thune’s justification, arguing that the SAVE Act should be at the forefront of Senate discussions.

“You can probably sense the typical rhetoric from Washington by now. It’s an obvious attempt to pacify rather than address actual concerns,” Colyanese remarked. “When you hear this sort of thing, you start to think, ‘Wait a second, this person seems intent on sidestepping the SAVE Act, which should be everyone’s main concern.’

Thune also listed various legislative areas—housing, market structure, agriculture, and highways—when explaining why the SAVE Act wasn’t a priority.

“I appreciate his view that there are other important issues, like sanctions against Russia,” Colyanese added, questioning the urgency of those sanctions. “But the crucial aspect is ensuring that American voters’ voices are honored. With elections fast approaching, it’s essential that those who wish to register to vote can prove their American citizenship.”

He stressed, “The only way to enforce this law is by passing the SAVE Act. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get it moving.” He acknowledged that Democrats may stall the process but emphasized the importance of letting them talk and holding them accountable.

The SAVE Act would mandate proof of citizenship for federal elections. Some Democrats label it as “voter suppression,” claiming it could disenfranchise those lacking easy access to their citizenship documents.

Thune has publicly shown support for the SAVE Act and committed to arranging a floor vote, although he expressed concerns about the potential challenges of invoking a filibuster.

“We indeed support the SAVE Act,” Thune stated. “However, triggering a talking filibuster could cause significant delays and lead to an unending debate with numerous amendments, resetting the timeline.” He mentioned that this would require considerable effort and cooperation, perhaps at the cost of other legislative business in the Senate.