Trump-Backed SAVE America Act Moves Closer To Passage
He has said he didn’t believe Republicans would hold together to repel a deluge of Democratic amendments that could substantially alter the legislation or target other agenda items important to Trump.
Senate Republicans previously mounted a lengthy floor effort in March to force debate on the SAVE America Act, but momentum behind the legislation has waned considerably in the months since.
That is especially true now that two members – Tillis and McConnell – are retiring, and another GOP senator, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 riot, lost his primary.
Another path forward would be eliminating the legislative filibuster altogether, a move Trump has periodically urged Republicans to pursue during his second term.
That option remains deeply divisive within the GOP conference.
Several Republican senators have warned that weakening or abolishing the filibuster could backfire if Democrats eventually regain control of the Senate and use the precedent to advance their own legislative priorities.
But conservatives argue Democrats have repeatedly pledged to do just that if they regain control of the chamber.
They add that, based on Democrats’ threats, Republicans should just end the rule now and push their agenda through, which they say would include the SAVE Act and make it harder for Democrats to win again.
Trump has also directed criticism at Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, whose ruling determined that the SAVE America Act did not qualify for inclusion in the immigration package under the Senate’s budget reconciliation rules, which allow passage by a simple majority vote.
In response, Trump has repeatedly urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remove MacDonough from her position.
“We have every right to change her, and should do so, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said on Truth Social. “As long as she’s there, we will never get our desperately needed, SAVE AMERICA ACT, approved, and put into full force and effect!”
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