It just became a little harder to blame Senate Majority Leader John Thune for failing to pass the SAVE America Act. Yesterday, Fox News reported, “Four Senate Republicans again unite with Dems to block Trump’s SAVE America Act.”

image 5.png
Yesterday, the Senate actually voted on an amendment to add the SAVE America Act to a pending budget reconciliation bill. Alert readers will recall that the proposed Act would require all voters to present ID and proof of citizenship in federal elections.

It only needed 50 votes. It failed 48—50. Four Republicans defected and joined Democrats opposing the amendment, including Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), 84, Thom Tillis (R-NC), 65, Susan Collins (R-ME), 73, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), 69.

The failed vote suggests that Majority Leader Thune may have had good reasons for delaying it— in that he probably knew it couldn’t pass. Of course, this doesn’t completely clear him. He could apply pressure and party discipline, such as by stripping the disloyal senators of their committee positions, as Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-La.) encouraged yesterday.

More conspiracy-minded commenters darkly suspect that Thune only let it come up for a vote because he knew it wouldn’t pass. I have no opinion on that one; it is a matter of mind-reading and imputed motives. I prefer to see the glass half-full— that there are now 48 Republican Senators on record as supporting the Act.

Maybe the Act will enjoy improved odds in January with a new Senate. Till then, there are other opportune irons heating up in the electoral fire. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more on that.