Thune rejects Trump on SAVE Act: ‘The votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Tuesday bluntly rejected President Trump’s call to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by forcing Democrats to deploy a talking filibuster to oppose it, stating “the votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster.”
Thune poured water on the proposal to make it tougher for Democrats to block the legislation, which would require people to show documented proof of citizenship to register to vote, by requiring them to actively hold the Senate floor in debate.
Thune argued there are not enough votes in the Senate to change the filibuster rules.
“The votes aren’t there, one, to nuke the filibuster, and the votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster. It’s just a reality,” Thune said Tuesday. “I’m the person who has to deliver sometimes the not-so-good news that the math doesn’t add up, but those are the facts and there’s no getting around it.”
The GOP leader made his comments after Trump told Republicans at an issues conference in Doral, Fla., that passing the SAVE Act through the Senate is his “No. 1 priority” heading into the midterm elections.
“It will guarantee the midterms. If you don’t get it, big trouble,” Trump warned.
“The people are demanding it. Every time I go out, save America! Save America! That’s all they talk about. They don’t talk about housing,” Trump said, alluding to the housing reform bill currently on the Senate floor.
Trump has threatened not to sign into law any bills passed by Congress, with the possible exception of legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, until the Senate approves the SAVE Act.
