Senate Republicans Hit a Wall
The Senate voted 48-50 on Thursday evening to reject the SAVE America Act as part of the reconciliation package, and that is not the kind of result Republican voters wanted to see. Four GOP senators, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, and Mitch McConnell, joined Democrats to block the measure. The amendment needed 60 votes to pass, so the outcome made one thing plain: if Republicans cannot even hold together on a simple test vote, then getting this bill across the finish line is going to be a long uphill climb.
Vote Shows The Filibuster Fight Is Real
This vote mattered because it sent a blunt message about the bigger Senate battle. Some GOP leaders have floated using reconciliation, which only needs 51 votes, but that route is no magic wand. The Senate Parliamentarian could strike the bill if it is not truly tied to spending or revenue. And if the only other answer is blowing up the filibuster, Thursday’s vote showed Republicans still do not have the votes for that kind of move either. In other words, the Senate managed to make a straight road look like a muddy goat path, which is quite a talent.
Trump Support Meets Senate Resistance
President Trump has repeatedly urged the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, and the White House says the public is on his side. It pointed to polling that showed strong support for voter ID, proof of citizenship, purging non-citizens from voter rolls, and sharing unredacted voting rolls with DHS. Even so, the vote exposed a familiar problem in Washington: when the pressure is on, a handful of Republicans still find ways to wander off the reservation and hand Democrats a win.
The Swamp for the Swamp