Daily Caller editorial director Vince Coglianese criticized Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republicans for not using a talking filibuster to advance the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act during a Wednesday episode of “VINCE.”
Thune told NBC News senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur on Tuesday that he didn’t want to spend limited Senate floor time on the SAVE Act, citing other legislative priorities such as Russian sanctions. Coglianese rejected Thune’s explanation on his show, arguing that the SAVE Act should be the Senate’s top priority.
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“You can tell — by now, you’re probably so used to hearing this kind of Washingtonese. You realize that this is an attempt to try and settle you down without actually delivering for you,” Coglianese said. “You can smell it a million miles away. You hear something like that and you’re like, ‘Well, wait a second. This guy is trying to talk me out of my priority, which is the SAVE Act.’ And that should be the priority of every single member of Congress.”
Thune also cited legislation related to housing, market structure, farming and highways as possible reasons not to prioritize the SAVE Act.
“I love how he’s like, ‘We’ve got all these other priorities we have to get to. We’ve got bigger priorities. Like Russia sanctions.’ Russia sanctions? We need another package of Russia sanctions right now?” Coglianese asked. “I’m pretty sure the most important thing is actually making sure the will of the American voter is protected. And we are, you know, months out now from the election, but that election gets closer and closer with each passing day. Every single person who’s going to attempt to register to vote, they better prove that they’re an American citizen.”
“And the only way we can mandate that by law is if we get the SAVE Act passed! So, what the hell are you waiting for? Start the process,” he added. “‘Oh, but Vince, Democrats are going to slow it down.’ No shit. That’s what we know is going to happen. They’ve got to do it by talking. Let them talk. And then use that against them. Whose side are you on anyway?”
The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Democratic lawmakers have labeled it as a “voter suppression” bill that would disenfranchise Americans who lack easy access to citizenship records.
Thune has publicly endorsed the SAVE Act and pledged a floor vote. He said he would continue to deliberate with his conference regarding how to advance.
“[W]e will vote on the SAVE Act. But exercising or triggering a talking filibuster has ramifications, implications that I think everybody needs to be aware of,” Thune told Kapur on Tuesday. “So we will have those discussions. But that obviously ties the floor up for an indefinite amount of time, with not only unlimited debate, but also unlimited amendments, all of which can reset the clock.”
“So it’s going to take something that can entail a tremendous amount of effort, work and cooperation, and at the expense of the other things we might be doing in the Senate,” he continued. “We’re gonna have a discussion about it and see where our conference is.”
The SAVE Act passed the House in April with just four Democratic votes, but it has since stalled in the Senate.
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