The SAVE America Act Stands a Chance After All

Thanks to action from President Donald Trump this week, the Senate may be forced to try harder to pass the SAVE America Act.

On Wednesday, just as he was about to sign a housing bill, the president canceled the ceremony, delaying it until the SAVE America Act came to his desk to sign. Trump called it “a national emergency.” Although the housing bill can still pass without Trump’s signature, it’s clear where his focus is.

Just a day before, Tony Kinnett, host of “The Tony Kinnett Cast,” predicted there was “not a snowball’s chance in hell” for the bill to pass. After Trump’s move, however, the legislation “may actually have a pretty stellar pathway forward,” Kinnett acknowledged.

Not only is the bill a priority for Trump, but it’s “a very popular bill with the American people”, Kinnett pointed out. He also lamented “all of the different federal judges that have directly attempted to intervene on the most basic election security measures that almost every other civilized country [uses].”

Polling on voter ID and the SAVE America Act has shown strong support at the national and state level. During Thursday’s show, Kinnett referenced a Harvard/Harris poll showing 71% of registered voters support the legislation.

Kinnett noted that Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, has been particularly vocal about the need to pass the SAVE America Act, describing it as one of the “two major priorities before the midterms.”

“Heritage Action will be tracking which members of Congress failed to act in the interest of the American people,” Roberts warned. “Republicans only have a guaranteed trifecta through the end of the year, and they should not be wasting it on more vacations. America expects results.”

One option for getting the bill passed is to attach it to “must-pass” legislation, such as extending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told the Daily Signal’s Pedro Rodriguez that he’s “fine with” a suggestion that the Senate vote on the SAVE America Act every day until November. He also said he would support a vote on the SAVE America Act with FISA, as well as through Reconciliation 3.0. Another idea would be using the talking filibuster.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., emphasized that the SAVE America Act is a priority. He promoted tying the legislation to FISA. “All you do is put a death wish on FISA,” he told Rodriguez.

Throughout the show this week, Kinnett said that tying the SAVE America Act to other legislation is the way to success.

“There are several bills that the establishment part of the party on the Republican side of the aisle really, really wants.” Kinnett said on his show Thursday. This includes FISA.

The recent reactions from Democrats, Kinnett said, are a sign the bill has a chance of passing.

“You can tell there’s some panic and fear about this,” Kinnett said, citing reactions by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who was “trying to act really confident” but failing. Schumer claimed the legislation amounted to an “all-out assault on voting rights” and that Republicans should focus on other issues.

If Trump has failed as Democrats try to claim, Kinnett argued, Schumer would be saying so, rather than complaining about priorities.