As they begin debate on the SAVE America Act—a bill requiring photo identification and proof of citizenship in federal elections—Republicans in the Senate are pursuing an unusual strategy which provides little assurance of the bill getting passed.
“We look forward to putting the Democrats on record and showing just the lack of commonsense that they apply to some of these basic issues where the American people agree with us,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said at a Tuesday press conference as he detailed a plan to hold a multi-day debate on the election bill.
“I’m looking forward to a vigorous, long, and spirited conversation on the floor of the United States Senate,” he added.
In essence, Republicans are simply dragging out the normal process for considering the bill.
In the first step of the process, Republicans voted Tuesday on a procedural motion to advance the House-passed bill, which required a simple majority of 51 votes.
This passed by a 51-48 margin. All Republicans voted to advance the bill except Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who voted against it, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who was absent.
All Democrats voted against advancing it.
Murkowski has argued passing the bill “would negatively impact election integrity by forcing election officials to scramble to adhere to new policies likely without the necessary resources.”
Now, Republicans are holding off on what would typically be the next step—filing cloture to end debate, an action which requires 60 votes to succeed.
Instead, they will devote multiple days to debating the bill on the Senate floor in an attempt to force Democrats out into the open on the issue.
This is a different approach than implementing a “talking filibuster,” which involves side-stepping the 60-vote requirement by forcing Democrats to speak in order to block the bill, or the “nuclear option” of changing rules to lower the number of votes required to end debate.
Republicans will also consider an amendment which would add in provisions requested by President Donald Trump, such as restrictions on mail-in ballots, transgender surgeries, and transgender participation in women’s sports.
One unknown is how much time Republicans will be willing to spend on the matter.
“Until we win the argument” on requiring photo identification and proof of citizenship, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, told The Daily Signal.
“I think we can win the argument on those two things,” he continued. “Make the Democrats go on the floor and say, ‘No, no, no, you shouldn’t have to prove who you are.’”
Democrats have so far dug in their heels in opposition to the SAVE America, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., calling it “a voter suppression bill,” and even swing state Democrat senators such as John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joining in opposition.
Barring the unlikely defection of over a half dozen Democrats to the Republican side, the bill is likely to be blocked whenever Republicans attempt to end debate, which would require 60 votes.
Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., has doubts about the practicality of the approach.
“I would love to see it pass. You know, I hate to say this because this sounds terrible, but this provides a platform to a lot of people to get up and basically play to their constituents,” he told The Daily Signal.
He continued, “It gives [senators] an opportunity to get up on national television, propose whatever they’re proposing, however extreme it may be, look good and everything—and then at the end of the day, all they’re really doing is talking to their constituents so they can get reelected.”
