UMVA has learned that Senate Republicans have made a significant breakthrough in their efforts to pass President Trump's voter ID and citizenship verification bill, despite previous struggles.
In a dramatic late-night vote, Republicans managed to attach the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to a massive immigration enforcement package, reviving an issue that was once thought to be dead. The move was a crucial step towards passing the legislation, which has been stalled in the Senate for months.
The SAVE America Act, championed by Senators Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee, aims to implement stricter voter ID laws and citizenship verification measures. However, the bill faced significant opposition, with several Republicans joining Senate Democrats to block the effort. Despite this, Lee's attempt to attach the bill to the immigration package garnered 50 votes, with Senator Susan Collins flipping her vote to support the original version.
Lee celebrated the moment on social media, noting that with Vice President JD Vance potentially serving as a 51st vote, the SAVE America Act could finally pass. He argued that the only obstacle to the bill's passage is the "Zombie Filibuster," a procedural hurdle that requires 60 votes to overcome.
The development is a major victory for conservatives like Lee, who have been pushing Senate Majority Leader John Thune to launch a talking filibuster to pass the legislation. However, Thune has been hesitant to take this step, citing concerns that Republicans may not stay united in the face of Democratic amendments.
Another option for Republicans is to nuke the filibuster, a move that Trump has repeatedly demanded. However, this approach is also divisive, and several Republicans fear that it could haunt them if Democrats regain control of the Senate.
Trump has also targeted Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth Macdonough, who ruled that the SAVE America Act did not meet the threshold to be included in the immigration package. Trump has called on Thune to fire her, but Thune has so far declined to take action.
The fate of the SAVE America Act remains uncertain, but the late-night vote has breathed new life into the effort. As the bill's prospects improve, one thing is clear: the battle over voter ID laws and citizenship verification is far from over.
