President Donald Trump’s demands for the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill, have failed to yield a vote before the summer recess. Despite weeks of pressure from the president, Republican senators were unable to advance the bill, which lacks sufficient support from Republicans and Democrats alike.
Alternative Plan
Instead, Republican senators have proposed an alternative plan to try again to approve elements of the voting bill as part of a broader GOP budget package to fund the Iran war and replenish the Pentagon when they return to work in September. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the GOP budget committee chairman, stated that the president agrees with this plan.
The failure to make progress on the SAVE America Act has sparked an online crusade among Trump’s allies in Congress, with activists urging them to take action. Led by Senator Mike Lee, a growing group of senators had refused to adjourn for the summer break without passing Trump’s priority voting bill.
The Senate did manage to pass other key priorities, including the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, a sweeping Russian sanctions package to aid Ukraine, and a bipartisan package to fund the government into December. However, the failure to advance the SAVE America Act has highlighted the challenges faced by the president in pushing his agenda through Congress.
Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.