President Donald Trump said he refuses to sign anymore bills until Congress passes a bill that would add new voting requirements ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump posted has intentions on Truth Social Sunday, The Hill reported.
“It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else,” Trump wrote.
“MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION – GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY – ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL…” he continued.
Trump’s message will likely be welcome news to House Republicans. The president will be speaking to them Monday at their three-day issues retreat in Miami where the party is expected set its legislative agenda and sharpen its messaging for the midterms.
The president’s post follows weeks of debate over the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which passed the House in February but is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
The legislation would require individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a form of ID before casting a ballot.
The bill has big support among Republicans in Congress. However, Democrats are opposed and can use a filibuster to prevent it from advancing in the upper chamber.
That has led the president and some conservatives in Congress to push Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to return the Senate to a “talking filibuster” that could allow them to move the bill forward.
“Under current interpretations of the filibuster rule, a member can object to a bill passing and hold it up until 60 senators vote to overcome the filibuster,” per The Hill. “But a talking filibuster would force Democrats to speak on the floor continuously to prevent a vote from happening.
Once they give up the floor, Republicans could pass the legislation with 51 votes.”
That has been a no-go for Thune has so far.
He ran for Senate GOP leadership on a promise to keep current filibuster rules in place. He has warned of Democrats could use the new new rules to their advantage if they retake control of the upper chamber.
Trump’s statement is the most pressure that has been put on Thune thus far. If Trump holds to his stance, it could paralyze some important pieces of legislation.
The president didn’t clarify if his position applies to legislation to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been closed down for more than three weeks.
