Senate Majority Leader John Thune responded cautiously to President Donald Trump‘s call to cancel the Senate’s five-week August recess to debate the SAVE America Act, saying he is open to the idea only if there is a realistic chance of success and not merely to hold unproductive procedural votes.
"If I thought there was a path for getting a result, I’m all for it. I’m a cosponsor of the SAVE Act. We voted on it two, three, four, five times already. We had it up on the floor for an extended period of time," he told the reporters on Monday.
"Show me how this ends. What’s the picture of victory at the end?" he asked.
Thune also noted that Republican senators in competitive races need to return home to campaign and help maintain the party’s Senate majority, as the party faces typical midterm challenges.
Several Republican senators, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), say they will oppose the Senate’s August recess unless the SAVE America Act is passed. However, their objections can be overridden if 60 senators vote to adjourn.
So far, the legislation has received no Democratic support, while several Republicans, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have also voted against it.
Read Also: John Kennedy Says John Thune Is 'Too Cautious,' Predicts Chuck Schumer Will Shut Down the Government
Trump Pushes Senate On SAVE Act Vote
On Monday, President Donald Trump urged Thune to keep the Senate in session during the August recess to push debate and votes on the SAVE America Act, which would require 60 votes to pass.
Earlier this month, Trump also refused to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, in protest over the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) warned that blocking Senate business could do more than waste time, arguing it could create political backlash for Republicans just months before the midterm elections.
Trump, conservative activists, and their allies face opposition from a quieter group of Senate Republicans who support the SAVE America Act but oppose ending the filibuster and are reluctant to publicly reveal their stance due to potential backlash from the party base.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
