President Donald Trump is advocating for the inclusion of his proposed voter ID and citizenship verification legislation, known as the SAVE America Act, in a party-line package. However, even strong supporters of the bill express skepticism about its feasibility. Trump has called for Republicans to work on a third budget reconciliation package that would combine $350 billion in defense spending with the SAVE America Act.
Republicans have recently passed a second reconciliation package aimed at funding immigration enforcement but are hesitant to pursue another reconciliation process, especially with the midterm elections approaching. Some Republicans view reconciliation as the only viable method to advance the SAVE America Act, but concerns about time constraints and agreement on the legislation persist.
Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) stated, "It’s our only shot. It's the only shot," but he also noted the limited time available. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) expressed support for voter ID but highlighted the lack of sufficient Republican backing to overcome Democratic opposition.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged the challenge of securing the necessary votes, stating that achieving the required 60 votes in the Senate would be difficult without eliminating the legislative filibuster, which lacks sufficient support.
The reconciliation process is also constrained by the Byrd Rule, which requires that items included must have a direct budgetary impact, complicating the inclusion of the SAVE America Act. Republicans have previously attempted to attach the act to reconciliation packages but have faced repeated failures.
Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio), a proponent of the SAVE America Act, mentioned ongoing efforts to find ways to pass the legislation, although he expressed uncertainty about success. Some proposed alternatives may diverge significantly from the current bill, which Trump has suggested should include additional policies unrelated to elections.
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) noted that the bill's policy nature makes it ineligible for reconciliation consideration, but he suggested that funding for states to issue an "Enhanced Real ID" could provide a potential pathway for some aspects of the legislation. Lee expressed skepticism about the possibility of a third reconciliation bill, citing scheduling challenges.