Senate Majority Leader John Thune is delaying consideration of the SAVE America Act, a key legislative priority for former President Donald Trump, in favor of passing a continuing resolution to fund the government and avert a shutdown. This decision has created a rift within the Republican party, with some members expressing frustration over the slowed progress.
House Republicans had advanced a budget reconciliation package that included a pathway to pass parts of the SAVE America Act in the Senate. However, Thune stated his priority is to prevent Senate Democrats from shutting down the government ahead of the midterm elections. Negotiations for a continuing resolution are already underway in the Senate.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., voiced his disapproval of Thune's approach, warning against negotiating with Democrats. "I've seen this vampire movie before. He wants to negotiate with the Democrats. I respect that, but right now, if you turn the other cheek to Chuck (Schumer), he's just gonna stab me in the neck," Kennedy told Fox News Digital. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., acknowledged Kennedy's concerns but emphasized the need for Republicans to find a way forward on government funding.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., argued that the Senate should be able to address both government funding and the SAVE America Act simultaneously. "Well, we all should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time," Scalise said. "In fact, this week, we're doing both. We're passing the reconciliation bill that will move SAVE America, and we're passing a continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels."
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., expressed openness to the Senate's proposals, stating that anything that helps Republicans avoid a shutdown before the elections would be considered. However, Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., raised concerns about Thune's idea of attaching the continuing resolution to the budget reconciliation bill, calling it "problematic" due to the different types of funding involved.
Thune indicated that the SAVE America Act might not meet the necessary 50 votes for passage in the Senate and reiterated that the primary focus remains on funding the government. "The priority is funding the government. And, so, to me, that's the thing we've got to keep our eyes on," Thune told Fox News Digital.
Despite the differing strategies, Republicans across both chambers agree on the necessity of keeping the government funded. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, stated, "We need to do government funding, he’s right on that. We should also make sure our elections are secure, we should support the military, and so I think the reconciliation bill should move forward as well."