President Donald Trump's push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act faces legislative hurdles in the Senate, partly due to the prolonged absence of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McConnell's extended medical leave and unclear return date are impacting several GOP priorities, including the election integrity reforms Trump is advocating for.
McConnell's role as chair of the Senate Rules Committee makes his presence crucial for drafting any version of the SAVE America Act that could pass through budget reconciliation, a process Trump has urged Republicans to utilize. The uncertainty surrounding McConnell, combined with the recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham, who previously led reconciliation efforts, complicates the legislative path.
Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who has taken over as chair of the Senate Budget Committee following Graham's passing, acknowledged the complexities. "I think there are a lot of issues," Johnson told Fox News Digital, referring to the legislative landscape. He indicated that the Budget Committee might be responsible for drafting language for the SAVE America Act, but noted that the process is in its early stages and depends on the conference's decisions and Senate Minority Whip John Thune's priorities.
Thune, R-S.D., is currently prioritizing efforts to prevent a government shutdown, a task that has led him to encourage ongoing bipartisan negotiations on a funding deal. He has also suggested that Republicans may not have the necessary votes to pass the SAVE America Act or even a budget resolution in the Senate. Thune emphasized that the SAVE America Act, in its current form, does not comply with the strict rules for reconciliation, which would require a 60-vote threshold rather than the simpler majority available through reconciliation. He suggested that structuring the bill around incentives and grant money for states might be a potential avenue, but reiterated that "the math on that hasn't changed yet."
Trump has publicly called for Republicans to pass a budget resolution before their recess to fund defense and agriculture, and to advance "as much of the SAVE AMERICA ACT as possible." However, Thune has faced criticism from some Republicans for potentially delaying reconciliation in favor of averting a shutdown.
Senator John Kennedy, R-La., has stated that reconciliation is the only viable path for the SAVE America Act. He is reportedly working on a proposal that he believes could withstand the Senate's "Byrd" test, a rule governing budget reconciliation. "I can't guarantee it, but it's a -- I consider it to be a credible argument," Kennedy said. "And I will try to do that, and I will try to, at the right time, bring my colleagues, and, more importantly, the parliamentarian, along. But if we don't do it through reconciliation, through the House reconciliation, we won't get it done."