Thune Vows Senate Vote on Trump‑Backed SAVE Voter‑ID Bill Despite Schumer Opposition and Filibuster Hurdle
Senate GOP Leader John Thune pledged to bring the Trump‑backed SAVE America voter‑ID bill to the floor after Republicans secured 50 backers — with Sen. Susan Collins as the 50th — following a coordinated push by Sen. Mike Lee, the White House and Senate conservatives. Thune said he will not abolish the 60‑vote filibuster but plans to rely on old‑style talking/standing filibuster and unlimited‑amendment tactics to try to advance measures that could pass with 51 votes, setting up a clash with Democrats led by Chuck Schumer, who vowed to block the bill "tooth and nail," while Sen. Lisa Murkowski is a declared no, Sens. Mitch McConnell and Thom Tillis have not signed on, and Sen. John Fetterman has criticized Schumer’s rhetoric but remains noncommittal.
📌 Key Facts
- Fifty Senate Republicans now back the Trump-backed SAVE America Act (voter ID bill), with Sen. Susan Collins identified as the 50th GOP supporter.
- A coordinated pressure campaign led by Sen. Mike Lee, the White House and Senate conservatives helped secure those 50 GOP backers.
- Senate GOP Leader John Thune says, "We will have a vote," explicitly promising to bring the SAVE America Act to the Senate floor and confirming the 50 GOP backers; he frames the vote as forcing Democrats to go on record against proof-of-citizenship requirements and voter ID.
- Thune rules out eliminating the 60-vote filibuster but plans to rely on an old-style standing/talking filibuster strategy, which would permit unlimited amendments and could allow some measures to pass with 51 votes or place vulnerable senators in politically difficult positions — potentially imperiling the bill.
- Within the GOP, Thune is explicitly on board; Sen. Lisa Murkowski is a declared no, while Sens. Mitch McConnell and Thom Tillis have not signed on.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vows Democrats will block the bill "tooth and nail," and Democratic criticism has labeled it "Jim Crow 2.0"; only Sen. John Fetterman has publicly broken with that rhetoric but remains noncommittal on his vote.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Thune tells Fox News Digital, 'We will have a vote,' explicitly promising to bring the SAVE America Act to the Senate floor.
- He confirms 50 GOP senators now back the bill and frames the vote as forcing Democrats to go on record against requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID.
- Thune publicly rules out eliminating the filibuster but describes using the old‑style talking/standing filibuster, stressing it would mean unlimited amendments that pass with 51 votes and could put vulnerable senators in politically difficult spots or even imperil the bill.
- Confirms that 50 Senate Republicans now support the SAVE America Act, with Sen. Susan Collins as the 50th.
- Details a coordinated pressure campaign led by Sen. Mike Lee, the White House and Senate conservatives to secure those 50 GOP backers.
- Explains that advancing the bill with only 50 votes would require reviving a standing/talking filibuster strategy, since there are not enough GOP votes to abolish the 60‑vote filibuster.
- Notes that Senate GOP Leader John Thune is now explicitly on board, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski is a declared no and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Thom Tillis have not signed on.
- Quotes Sen. Chuck Schumer vowing Democrats will block the bill 'tooth and nail' and reiterates that only Sen. John Fetterman has broken with Schumer’s 'Jim Crow 2.0' rhetoric while staying noncommittal on how he’ll vote.