One of President Trump’s priorities, the SAVE America Act, may be one narrow step closer to passage in the Senate. It’s a narrow step indeed, bordering on being invisible, but it’s there, and it’s a step in the right direction. And it’s a changed vote by Senate Republican Susan Collins (R-ME) that has made this happen.
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During the Senate’s marathon “vote-a-rama” to advance the GOP’s $70 billion immigration enforcement package, Republicans tried twice to attach the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to the massive bill.
They failed both times, with a cohort of Republicans joining Senate Democrats to stymie the effort, which was destined to fail either way given that the amendments from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, had to break through the filibuster.
Ah, yes, the filibuster – more on that in a moment. But one of the defecting Senate Republicans is now indicating a willingness to bring the original SAVE America Act to the table.
Graham’s attempt was to attach the modified version of the SAVE America Act, which included several policy additions, like barring men in women’s sports, that Trump demanded months ago.
Four Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., voted against it. Their defections prevented the bill from even getting 50 votes, a prerequisite for success if Republicans were to launch a talking filibuster.
But Lee’s attempt did hit 50 votes, with Collins flipping her vote to support the original version of the SAVE America Act.
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That’s at least a small comfort.
Read More: The 4 Republicans Who Helped Dems Shoot Down the SAVE America Act Again
Trump Puts Thune on the Ropes Over ‘Nasty’ Parliamentarian As SAVE America Act Showdown Explodes
But we still have a ways to go to see this done. The filibuster remains an issue, and yes, it’s a big stumbling block. A year ago, I was staunchly insistent on keeping that roadblock in place, as it has historically served as a block to the more extreme agenda items of politicians on both sides. But now? Democrats will, the moment they regain control of the Senate, eliminate the filibuster. They have repeatedly told us they will. And once it’s gone, it’s not coming back; if we wait and let Democrats do that, then it’s Katie-Bar-the-Door for every piece of nutcase far-left lunacy they can cook up.
The Republicans may as well beat them to the punch, and use the tactic to ensure election integrity. This is an 80-20 issue, according to every poll that’s ever been done on the matter. It’s so much of a no-brainer that even most Democrats are in favor of it.
The other option is insisting on an actual, talking filibuster:
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Conservatives like Lee have pushed Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to launch a talking filibuster to grind down Senate Democrats and pass the legislation at a simple majority threshold.
But Thune hasn’t pulled the trigger out of concern that Republicans wouldn’t stay together to bat down a deluge of Democratic amendments that could substantially change the legislation or target other elements of Trump’s agenda.
Then, there’s an obvious solution. Kill the 60-vote filibuster. Get this done. The time for baby steps is past.
Editor’s Note: President Trump is leading America into the “Golden Age” as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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