Thune Pulls Ace From His Sleeve To Get Save America Act Passed - Says Republicans Can Do It...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that Republicans are prepared to use budget reconciliation to advance the SAVE America Act if necessary to overcome Democratic opposition. Thune stated that reconciliation remains a viable option if it becomes necessary to ensure the bill reaches the finish line. “I think that budget reconciliation, as I’ve said before, you have to have a reason to do it. And if we have reasons to do it—and we may, very well may—I think there are a number of our colleagues in the Senate—we just came out of a luncheon where this was discussed—and I think there’s a lot of support for a budget reconciliation bill,” Thune said.
Thune noted that Republicans have multiple legislative pathways available to advance the measure. He said leadership is prepared to consider using those tools if it ensures the bill meets procedural requirements. “We have two legislative vehicles, as you know, available to us, so we could tee one of those up. And that’s an option. And we’ll see—if that’s what it takes to get some of these things across the finish line, and we can do it with simple majorities, we’ll take a hard look at it,” he said.
Under the reconciliation process, legislation can pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the usual 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. That would allow Republicans to pass the measure with 50 votes, with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote if needed. However, the process is limited by the Byrd Rule, which restricts reconciliation bills to provisions that directly affect federal spending or revenue. Items considered “extraneous” can be removed if they do not meet those criteria.
Sen. John Kennedy also voiced support for pursuing the reconciliation strategy to advance the legislation. He said Republicans should explore all available legal avenues to ensure the bill meets procedural requirements. “I think we are, Mr. President—I know you are—we need to try to pass this legislation through reconciliation,” Kennedy said. “Now, you know how reconciliation works, Mr. President. It means we can pass this bill with 50 Republican votes and the Vice President to break the tie,” he said.
Newly minted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that discussions around this approach are already underway. He said Republican leadership, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, is actively working on a reconciliation framework. “Lindsey Graham, the chairman where the reconciliation will funnel through, is committed to making sure we get reconciliation through,” Mullin said. “If that is in some form with funding ICE, possibly backfilling from the One Big Beautiful Bill, but also, more importantly, the SAVE America Act—there’s a framework that we can use through reconciliation, paying for it and putting in some of the policies that cost money,” he said.
“Because there’s nothing more important than the SAVE America Act. I mean, that’s what the American people want. Eighty percent of the population says they want only Americans voting—citizens who are registered to vote, citizens who have done it the right way,” Mullin said. “And I believe that everybody wants election integrity. So fortunately, Lindsey Graham has said that, through reconciliation, he’s willing to put the framework out for that,” he said.
May you like
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections, strengthen voter identification rules, and expand federal involvement in maintaining voter rolls. Polling has consistently shown broad public support for such requirements across party lines. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the elimination of the filibuster to allow the measure to pass with a simple majority. The current debate reflects ongoing partisan divisions over election procedures and the use of the reconciliation process. The Senate continues to navigate multiple high-stakes deadlines, with lawmakers weighing national security, fiscal priorities, and electoral integrity measures as the midterm cycle approaches.
Further attempts to advance voter ID provisions may occur in subsequent legislative vehicles. The outcome of recent votes has drawn attention to internal Republican dynamics and the challenges of achieving consensus on contentious policy riders. Both parties are expected to continue debating the balance between security, access, and administrative feasibility in federal elections. The developments also occur against the backdrop of broader national conversations about the filibuster’s role in the modern Senate. Proponents of change argue that the 60-vote threshold has become a tool for obstruction, while defenders say it protects minority rights and encourages bipartisanship. The current debate is likely to intensify as the 2026 midterms draw closer.
