Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, has urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to accelerate the advancement of President Trump's agenda, warning that the Senate is being "too cautious" with fewer than 100 days remaining before the midterm elections. Kennedy expressed his views on Sunday during an appearance on CBS News' "Face The Nation."
"I think he's just being too cautious," Kennedy said of Thune, while acknowledging his respect for the Senate Majority Leader. "He wants to spend the rest of our time talking with [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer about shutting down government."
The Senate is scheduled to be in session until August 7 before a five-week recess, returning on September 14. A potential government shutdown is slated to begin at 11:59 p.m. ET on September 30.
Kennedy outlined several legislative priorities he believes should be brought to the floor for votes. "We need to put the, the House budget resolution on the floor. It's the only chance we have to get money to defense, the farmers, and to take another crack at the SAVE Act," Kennedy stated. He also called for adding Iran to the Lindsey Graham Russian sanctions bill and for a vote on the cryptocurrency market structure bill.
Prior to their August recess, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap measure to fund the government through December 4. Some Senate Republicans, including Kennedy, advocate for attaching the Trump-endorsed SAVE America Act to the budget resolution. This act proposes requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo identification for casting ballots.
"In my opinion, for both sides to have credibility in the elections, in our elections, we need to do two things and only two things," Kennedy said. "Number one, you have to prove you are who you say you are in order to register to vote and to vote. And number two, however you decide to vote, that's up to the states, we need to go back to having an election day, not an election month. We've got to know the results of [an] election that night or shortly thereafter if it's close. That to me is what the SAVE Act is all about, and I think we can pass it."