Senate Majority Leader John Thune rejected calls Monday to cancel the upcoming August recess, stating that remaining in Washington would not secure the votes needed to pass the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.
The decision puts Thune at odds with President Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers who urged the Senate to stay in session until the election integrity measure is approved.
Addressing reporters, Thune said staying in Washington would not change the legislative reality facing the bill.
“For me, it’s all about show me a path to passage,” Thune said. “What’s your picture of victory at the end on this? Because if the end game is we actually get an outcome or a result, we could stay here till Christmas. The Democrats aren’t voting for this, I’m just telling you. And Republicans are not getting rid of the legislative filibuster.”
Thune noted that recess plans could shift if actionable legislation emerged.
“If we have a reason to be here, and there are a couple other things that could pop [up] based on the kind of conversations I had over the weekend legislatively, things we actually could get done, we’ll take a look at that. And I’m not ruling it out,” Thune said. “I’m just saying, give me a rationale or a path to getting success staying here through the month of August. And, you know, like I said, I think you could stay here till Christmas.”
Thune pointed to a lack of majority support within the chamber for the measure. Opponents included North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who referred to the effort to pass the legislation under current conditions as a “waste of time.”
Trump publicly pressed Senate leadership to block lawmakers from departing D.C. before acting on the bill.
“John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to ‘leave town’ until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER, where Republicans can then quickly pass everything they ever dreamed of, including a full and deep throated SAVE AMERICA ACT, the Budget, and the ever looming Debt Ceiling disaster, 1929!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday. “The Dumocrats will do it on day one, and can’t believe how lucky they got with this Senate leadership. Remember, stupidity always brings LOSING & DEATH!”
Calls to cancel the scheduled break began Sunday when Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah announced he would formally object to recessing without a vote on the legislation.
“.@LeaderJohnThune, I hereby object to any effort to put the Senate into recess in August—at least until such time as the Senate has passed the SAVE America Act—and hereby request a roll call vote. Do not assume you have my consent. You do not,” Lee posted online.
A group of Republican senators, including Jim Banks of Indiana, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Darline Graham of South Carolina, and Ashley Moody and Rick Scott of Florida, backed the effort to remain in session. Lee and Tuberville previously proposed canceling a two-week recess in July for the same purpose, though lawmakers ultimately took the break without formal objection.
Graham characterized the SAVE America Act as a necessary legislative priority.
“President Trump is 100% correct. The SAVE America Act is top priority. I will stay here as long as necessary to get it passed and signed into law,” Graham said. “I came to Washington to fight for the people of South Carolina and deliver on our conservative agenda.”
Graham was appointed to the Senate following the sudden death of her brother, former Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, from an aortic rupture. Prior to his passing, Lindsey Graham introduced an amendment linking the SAVE America Act to the Secure America Act reconciliation package, which became law on June 10 after the amendment failed when four Republicans voted against it.
Pressure surrounding the voter eligibility legislation has disrupted other legislative business in recent weeks. Trump previously halted the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act due to the Senate’s inaction on the SAVE America Act. On June 17, Trump threatened to oppose the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless the SAVE America Act was attached to the measure.
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