Thune rebuffs Trump on SAVE Act filibuster tactic
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- Trump has said he will not sign any legislation until the Senate approves the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and presentation of an ID to cast a ballot.
- Thune has opted against using a "talking filibuster" to force Democrats to speak continuously on the Senate floor, calling the procedure "much more complicated and risky than people are assuming at the moment."
- Thune told the Senate floor last week that he "can't guarantee an outcome on this legislation" but can guarantee Democrats will be "put on the record," signaling the bill may fail but GOP leaders want a political cudgel.
- Senate Democrats are united in opposition — Schumer said they "will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances," and even Fetterman, a frequent GOP crossover voter, said he wouldn't support the bill "in its current state."
- Some House Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), have threatened to oppose all Senate-passed legislation until the SAVE America Act clears the upper chamber, writing: "The Senate will no longer have legislation passed until the SAVE America Act is passed."
- Trump told the House Republican retreat in Doral, Florida, that passing the bill will "guarantee the midterms," saying voters at his rallies chant "save America" and "don't talk about housing" or "anything" else.
Why it matters: The SAVE America Act cannot reach 60 votes with Democrats united against it, and Thune's refusal to deploy the talking filibuster means the bill likely stalls — but GOP leaders get a forced vote that puts every Democrat on record against voter-ID measures ahead of the midterms. The collateral cost is legislative paralysis: House Republicans are already threatening to sink unrelated Senate bills as leverage.
