Late-Night Senate Session Ends With SAVE America Defeat​

The U.S. Senate adjourned early Saturday morning after a long night of votes and debate, failing to pass one of President Trump’s most pressing priorities, the SAVE American Act. Though Republicans had some wins, they left the fight for the legislation to secure U.S. elections until they return to Washington in September.

“Tragically, the Save America vote on the voter ID component failed,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said after the Senate adjourned. “Not a single Democrat joined us. We’re going to have to keep fighting on that one. We’re not done. We’re just getting started,” he continued.

Some SAVE America provisions were attached to a House-passed budget bill that senators, and Trump, agreed to postpone until after their five-week recess. In a two-hour conference call that included GOP Sens. Lee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida, Majority Leader John Thune, and Trump, there was agreement to table the budget bill and vote on separate legislation that included only voter ID. That measure failed.

Republicans knew they did not have the votes to pass the budget bill because of disagreements over increased defense spending. Johnson told reporters that they would come back in September to vote on the budget bill with the SAVE America provisions.

“We had the discussion with the president, he agrees, don’t take the vote tonight. Just work diligently through August and September to do an actually better budget reconciliation bill,” Johnson said.

“We’re all satisfied with that. So, we’re not going to vote on the budget resolution tonigh,” he continued.

They attempted a final SAVE America effort and voted to amend a 2002 law, put forward by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, to require voter ID. However, it failed by eight votes.

“We did our best, left no stone unturned. I wish the outcome had been different, both as to adjournment and as to these votes. But this fight’s not over. We’re just getting started,” Lee said.

The Senate did pass multiple Republican priorities Trump has been pushing for. Around 4:30 a.m., the Senate was able to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general in a vote of 50-49; Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted no.

The Senate also passed a preemptive bill to avoid an October government shutdown. The continuing resolution passed with massive bipartisan support, 90-6, to keep the government funded through the midterm elections and until Dec. 11. The House passed a version of this bill but will have to vote on the Senate’s version when lawmakers return in September, though it is likely to pass.

Lee was vocal about staying in Washington until the SAVE America Act was passed but did not have enough support. They adjourned at 4:56 a.m. and headed home until September.