Former President Donald Trump has publicly urged House Republicans to cease obstructing legislative proceedings, directly addressing Representative Anna Paulina Luna's strategy of withholding support for other bills until her proposed SAVE America Act is advanced. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that House Republicans should "unify, and stop voting down 'Rules' or, threatening to do so," warning that empowering Democrats would worsen outcomes.
The former president's comments followed a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson and came after Luna vowed to block all legislation in the House until her SAVE America Act received consideration. This act, which Luna insists would be a national emergency, requires individuals to present a passport, birth certificate, or REAL ID to vote, while disallowing student IDs and utility bills. The bill faces significant hurdles, requiring 60 votes to pass in the Senate, a threshold unlikely to be met given the Republican party's narrow majority there.
Earlier in the week, Trump had rescinded his approval for a bipartisan housing affordability bill, stating he would not sign it until Congress passed the SAVE America Act. This move put pressure on Senate Republicans, though Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the bill's lack of sufficient GOP support for passage. Trump also directly engaged with Republican members on Capitol Hill regarding foreign policy, including a confrontation with those who voted to limit war powers against Iran.
Luna, a close Trump ally, indicated she would not vote to reopen the House floor for other legislation until the Senate addressed Trump's signature bill. Her ability to halt proceedings stems from the Republican party's slim majority, where a coordinated 'no' vote on a rule can prevent a bill from reaching the floor. However, Trump's public statement signals a disagreement with her tactics.
Several Republican colleagues have expressed reservations about Luna's approach. Representative Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee stated he disagreed with her strategy, while Representative Erin Houchin of Indiana suggested that the SAVE America Act could potentially pass through reconciliation without derailing other legislative priorities. North Carolina's Tim Moore, who authored his state's voter ID law, deemed the SAVE America Act important but cautioned against it overshadowing other pressing issues like housing, fuel costs, infrastructure, and education.
Conversely, Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado voiced support for Luna's hardline stance, telling the Daily Mail that she was "absolutely supportive of holding the line and not opening the House floor." Boebert characterized the Senate's departure as "a slap in the face to every single American." Luna defended her actions, characterizing the SAVE America Act as an "80/20 issue" and asserting that its supporters would reward members who champion it in midterm elections. She added, "Being elected to Congress does not mean falling in line. The people are with us, the President is with us, and history is on our side."