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Next week, the Senate will likely vote on the SAVE Act, legislation that would protect our elections by mandating voter ID. However, Senator Ron Johnson warned against a simple “one-and-done” vote, claiming it would result in a “disastrous” failure.
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From The Federalist:
After an enormous amount of pressure from the Republican base and the White House, Thune announced this week that he plans to bring the SAVE America Act up for a floor vote. The legislation would require voter ID and proof of American citizenship to register to vote. Many anticipate the bill will inevitably fail in a floor vote because it won’t reach the 60-vote threshold for cloture.
Responding to Thune’s inability to pass the SAVE America Act, President Donald Trump said, “he’s got to be a leader,” adding, “It’s the most popular bill I’ve ever seen put before Congress.”
Invoking cloture is one way to break the filibuster, and moving forward in the way Thune intends to is commonly known as “failure theater,” meaning GOP senators are “not going to make Democrats do anything other than show up and vote no. Then they’ll throw up their hands, pretend to be upset, and say they’ve tried nothing and are all out of ideas,” as The Federalist’s CEO Sean Davis pointed out.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Senator Johnson warned that the “one-and done vote” Majority Leader Thune is suggesting would just lead to more failure theater. He said, “At a minimum, you’ve got to have this on the floor for debate and force Democrats, day after day, to defend why they are opposed to something that the American people support by 90 percent margin.”
Senator Johnson was referencing the spoken or standing filibuster, which would require dissenting senators to “old to the floor constantly for as long as they possibly can,” according to The Federalist. Although many have suggested using the spoken filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, Senator Johnson warned that the procedure was “neutered” in 1986 by a rule created by former Senator Robert Byrd that allows dissenting Senators to offer unlimited amendments, bypassing the rule that would limit each lawmaker to two speeches. According to the Senator, the Byrd rule would need to be changed before attempting a spoken filibuster.
Even with the talking filibuster, however, Senator Johnson still isn’t convinced that the SAVE Act could pass. This is why the Senator has “reluctantly” supported ending the filibuster, stating, “When we won the majority here in this Congress, what I recommended very early on in Congress, I said our first vote ought to be to change the rules to eliminate the filibuster.”
It seems like it will take a miracle to pass the SAVE Act in the Senate. However, we know that, as intercessors, we worship a God of miracles. Let’s pray for the swift passage of the SAVE Act and for the protection of our elections!
How are you praying for the SAVE Act? Share your prayers and scriptures below.
(Excerpt from The Federalist. Photo Credit: CBP Photography)
