Thune Rebukes White House Over SAVE Act Push as Senate Faces August 7 Recess
Updated
Updated · The New Republic · Jul 23
Thune Rebukes White House Over SAVE Act Push as Senate Faces August 7 Recess
3 articles · Updated · The New Republic · Jul 23
Summary
John Thune snapped back at the White House after Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s “patience is running out,” telling aides to “get on the phone” and find the votes for the SAVE America Act.
50 votes are needed in the Senate, and Thune argued Democrats are blocking the bill on the floor while challenging the White House to pressure any persuadable Republicans.
216-214 House approval of a budget blueprint on Wednesday included parts of the measure, but Trump has tied support for other legislation to broader SAVE Act passage before the Senate’s August 7 recess.
That standoff has already delayed Homeland Security funding, stalled the defense authorization bill and disrupted other bipartisan legislation, widening the fight beyond election policy.
The bill has drawn backlash for requiring documents such as passports or birth certificates for voter registration, photo ID at the ballot box and a total ban on mail-in voting.