The debate over the controversial Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act has intensified after a Republican Senator called for budget reconciliation to force the President Donald Trump-backed Voter ID bill through the Senate.
Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) on Thursday, March 19, argued publicly for a budget reconciliation strategy that would allow Republicans to pass the sweeping voter ID legislation with a simple majority.
Those would bypass the traditional 60-vote threshold required to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
“This is a matter of common sense,” Kennedy told Fox News. “We ought to be doing it through reconciliation, which only requires 50 votes plus the Vice President. I have no idea why we haven’t tried it.”
The bill, which passed the House last month by a 218–213 margin, seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act to require proof of citizenship for new registrants and married women, among other changes.
Internal GOP tension
Supporters say it strengthens election integrity; critics warn it could suppress voters, particularly minorities and young people.
Senate Republicans are reportedly divided on how aggressively to pursue the bill. Conservative senators, including Mike Lee (R-Utah), have pushed for a talking filibuster, a procedural tactic that would force Democrats to maintain continuous debate on the Senate floor.
The lawmakers’ aim is to wear down opposition and clear the way for a simple-majority vote. Kennedy criticized this approach as unnecessarily cumbersome. “Why not do something that will work?” he said.
“Some of my Republican colleagues say we can’t get it past the Budget Control Act, which controls what we can do in reconciliation. How the hell do they know? We haven’t even tried yet.”
Also Read: Trump Threatens Congress Ahead of SAVE America Act Vote
Other GOP senators, including Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), have expressed frustration with leadership pressure.
Tillis described the ongoing push as a “circular firing squad” and questioned whether threats from President Donald Trump and MAGA allies would actually help the bill.
“To me, it’s disingenuous to threaten primaries for senators who don’t get on board with something they know doesn’t have the votes,” Tillis said.
Reconciliation as “Plan B” for SAVE America Act
Kennedy’s proposal would use the budget reconciliation process, a legislative tool normally reserved for tax and spending bills, which allows certain measures to bypass the filibuster.
In theory, this could allow Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act with only 50 votes plus the Vice President’s tie-breaking vote.
Senator Kennedy acknowledged that he is in the minority among Republicans for advocating reconciliation. “I freely admit that, but sometimes the majority just means all the fools are on the same side. I’m not calling my colleagues fools,” he added.
President Trump has repeatedly called the SAVE America Act “one of the most important & consequential pieces of legislation in the history of Congress and America itself.”
Earlier this week, he also promised to withhold support from any Republican senator who opposes the bill, escalating pressure on the conference.
Also Read: GOP Rebellions Deal Major Blow to Trump Despite Early Win on Voter ID Bill
Several Republican senators remain skeptical about the bill’s chances, citing Democratic opposition and the complicated procedural rules in the Senate.
“Circular firing squads never end well,” Tillis said, echoing concerns that aggressive maneuvers could fracture the party ahead of a midterm election, particularly as Trump’s approval ratings remain low and voter dissatisfaction with inflation persists.
Other Republicans, however, argue that failure to act could alienate the MAGA base. Some House conservatives have already warned that any delay could be politically costly.
The SAVE America Act passed a preliminary procedural vote in the Senate on March 17, with 51–48 senators voting to take up debate.
Among Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined Democrats against the measure. Thom Tillis did not vote.
No final Senate vote has been scheduled. Should the bill pass the Senate and be signed into law, it would require citizens to provide documentation proving U.S. citizenship before registering to vote, fundamentally changing the registration process.
