by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A political standoff is brewing in Washington after President Donald Trump vowed not to sign new legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, prompting warnings from Senate leaders that the move could trigger legislative gridlock.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday he hopes the president will reconsider the threat, noting that Republicans may not have a clear path to pass the bill through the Senate.
“I hope at the end of the day that if we can move things across the floor here and actually put legislation on his desk, that he’ll find his way to sign it,” Thune said.
The proposed SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot. The House has already passed a version of the bill, but Senate Republicans are debating how to move it forward amid Democratic opposition.
President Donald Trump urged Republicans to consider using a “talking filibuster” strategy to push the legislation through with a simple majority vote, rather than the usual 60 votes needed to end debate under the Senate’s cloture rules.
However, Thune expressed skepticism that the maneuver would succeed, warning that it would require strict party unity while allowing unlimited debate and amendments that opponents could use to derail the bill.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats remain firmly opposed to the legislation and warned that Trump’s threat to block other bills could stall Congress.
“If the president follows through, there will be total gridlock in Congress,” Schumer said.
Supporters of the measure, including Sen. Mike Lee, argue that Republicans should still attempt the procedural strategy.
“The one thing we know with certainty is that it won’t pass if we don’t try,” Lee wrote on social media.
Thune said the Senate may wait for the House to send a revised version of the legislation, leaving the next step for the SAVE America Act uncertain as the political confrontation continues.
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