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John Thune Asked Why GOP Lacks 51 Votes For Talking Filibuster On SAVE Act

John Thune Asked Why GOP Doesn't Have 51 Votes For A Talking Filibuster For SAVE Act (Screenshot/Fox News)

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday gave reasons why he thinks the GOP lacks the 51 votes needed to pursue a talking filibuster for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

Republican senators broadly support the SAVE America Act but hesitate to pursue a talking filibuster as a method to secure its passage. When asked in detail why he thinks a talking filibuster wouldn’t succeed, Thune first pointed to the math in the Senate, saying the GOP does not have 51 votes.

The filibuster effectively forces most legislation to secure 60 votes to end debate and move to a vote, giving the minority party a significant check in the Senate. The talking filibuster refers to the original form of the tactic, in which senators had to physically hold the floor and speak to prevent debate from ending. Under current rules, a silent or procedural filibuster often replaces continuous speaking.

“We don’t have the votes for it. And that’s, again, it’s a simple function of the math in the Senate. It would take even a talking filibuster. It would take 51 votes. We don’t have 51 votes for that in the United States Senate,” Thune said.

“But why is that? Why are Republican colleagues not going to force the issue?” host Bret Baier asked.

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“I know people don’t like to hear this, but the talking filibuster, it takes you back basically to the 1800s. You go back to the 19th century and the way things were done in the Senate, and we can’t find an example in modern Senate history where a piece of legislation passed via the talking filibuster,” Thune said.

Thune said that even if the GOP could muster the 51 votes needed for a talking filibuster on the SAVE America Act, the tactic would prolong the process with endless debate and repeated votes on amendments.

“It would be at 51 votes, but between now and then, and you’re talking about unlimited debate, and any time an amendment, for example, is offered and fails if it gets tabled, you start all over. You reset the clock. And it really favors the minority,” Thune added.

Although most Republican lawmakers back the SAVE America Act’s nationwide voter ID mandate, Democrats have vocally opposed the measure, with some critics comparing it to discriminatory practices. A faction of conservative legislators, including Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, has pushed for using a talking filibuster to overcome Democratic resistance, even though the approach could give the minority party opportunities to advance its own priorities.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Fox News)