Senate Republicans are restructuring voting legislation to bypass the filibuster and advance the SAVE America Act using the budget reconciliation process, which would require only 51 votes instead of 60.
The Republican-controlled Senate lacks the 60-vote supermajority needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster on major legislation. Majority Leader John Thune has struggled to advance several bills supported by both Republican and Democratic voters, including the SAVE America Act, which has been a priority for President Trump for over a year.
The Strategy
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., disclosed that Senate Republicans are working through the weekend to restructure the bill to comply with budget reconciliation rules. “We’re in session this week, and we’re working on it,” Hoeven said on Newsmax’s “Saturday Agenda.” “The key is that we get that passed. We can do that with 51 votes, which is why we’re working so hard to do it.”
The budget reconciliation process, enabled by the House-passed budget resolution, allows legislation to pass with a simple majority rather than facing a 60-vote filibuster requirement. Previous attempts to advance the SAVE America Act through normal legislative procedures were blocked by Senate Democrats.
The Compliance Challenge
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough previously determined that key provisions of the bill did not comply with reconciliation rules, a decision that prompted Trump to call for her removal. Hoeven stated that Republicans are revising the legislation through relevant Senate committees to ensure compliance with reconciliation requirements.
“The key here is that we are putting it together in a way where, with 51 votes, we can do it so that it would not be subject to a rule or to being stopped by the parliamentarian,” Hoeven said. If the Senate approves a revised version, the bill would return to the House for final consideration before becoming law.
What the Bill Contains
The SAVE America Act includes election security provisions such as requiring proof of citizenship and government-issued identification to vote. The legislation addresses voter integrity measures that have been central to Republican legislative priorities.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Political team contributed to this report.