The SAVE America Act is going to the Senate floor for debate, which likely will last for several days. That doesn’t mean it will pass, of course: Majority Leader John Thune says he doesn’t have the votes to eliminate the filibuster from Senate rules, a radical step that is opposed by many conservatives, or to impose a “talking filibuster,” as in bygone times. So the bill will be debated, but it won’t pass.
Republicans reportedly are emphasizing the bill’s most popular feature, a photo ID requirement at the polls. (The bill’s main provision, requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote, would impose much more of a burden.) It is notable that the Democrats don’t want to admit they oppose voter ID:
Asked if he’d be open to negotiating a slimmed-down photo ID bill with Republicans, Schumer replied, “Look, I’m not going to speculate on details. You know what our objection is — our objection, as Democrats, is not to a photo ID. You’d have to define it clearly and properly and easily, but not to a photo ID when you show up to vote. Our objection is it’s a voter suppression bill.”
I would like to see Republicans take Schumer up on his offer, and introduce a stand-alone voter ID bill.
