Thune Faces Backlash From Conservative Colleagues Over Stalled SAVE Act Vote Ahead of Summer Recess
Senate Majority Leader John Thune claims there is “no time” to pass the SAVE Act—just as the Senate prepares to leave for another two-week vacation.
While Thune insists the votes aren’t there to pass the legislation, multiple colleagues have publicly called him out, presenting evidence that 50 votes are already secured for the bill’s voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements. Frustrated by the stalled legislation, critics and fellow Republicans are increasingly labeling Thune (R-S.D.) a “RINO” and “Mitch McConnell 2.0.”
Instead of holding the vote, the Senate will recess for the Fourth of July from June 29th through July 10th. This is just one of several extended breaks built into the 2026 calendar, with a month-long recess looming in August.
Fast Facts on Senate “Vacations”:
- Part-time schedule, full-time pay: From 2001 to 2021, the Senate averaged just 164 days in legislative session per year. That leaves 201 days out of D.C.—all while collecting their full, taxpayer-funded salaries.
- Trending downward: In recent years, that number has often dipped to the 140–165 day range, meaning they are spending even fewer days working in Washington.
- The American average: The typical American worker receives just 10 to 15 days (2–3 weeks) of paid vacation a year.
- “State Work Periods”: While lawmakers defend these breaks as official time for constituent services and town halls, critics argue these extended recesses are simply taxpayer-funded downtime that slows conservative priorities and allows critical legislation to pile up.
