President Donald Trump pressed the Senate Republican Conference on Monday to keep the Senate in session past its upcoming August break until senators pass the SAVE America Act or end the filibuster. His demand puts John Thune on the spot as Republicans head toward an Aug. 7 recess with no clear path to settle the fight.
Trump wrote on social media that John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to "leave town" until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER. Later on Monday, he told reporters that he has a good relationship with Thune and said the Senate majority leader has "got to get his job done."
Thune and the votes
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but Thune has said they do not have the votes to pass the SAVE America Act or change the rules to get around the filibuster. That leaves Trump asking for a result the Senate Republican Conference has not shown it can produce under current rules.
The SAVE America Act is described in the source as a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill. House Republicans approved a budget framework last week that included $10 billion for voting-related changes aligned with the bill, but Thune said Republicans do not currently have the votes for the budget reconciliation process either.
August break pressure
The Senate's August break is scheduled to start on Aug. 7, and Thune had hoped to focus before then on government funding, cryptocurrency legislation and sanctions on Russia. Trump’s demand interrupts that schedule and forces Senate Republicans to choose between leaving for recess or trying to keep the chamber open for the voting bill fight.
Several Republican senators are already in competitive races, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Ohio Sen. Jon Husted and Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan. Utah Sen. Mike Lee warned late last week that how Republicans handle the SAVE America Act could impact the November midterm elections and the Senate GOP leadership elections.
Mike Lee warning
Lee wrote on social media that the issue could impact not only the November midterm elections, but also the Senate GOP leadership elections. He also wrote, "Leaders must lead. And if they don't, they're not leaders," adding another layer of pressure on Thune as the Senate Republican Conference weighs whether to keep the chamber in Washington.
The immediate question is whether Thune changes the schedule or keeps saying Republicans lack the votes. If he does neither, Trump’s demand turns into a standoff that reaches the August break with the Senate still split over whether to stay or go.
