Sen. Mike Lee on the SAVE Act: Restoring the Talking Filibuster for Voter ID

The SAVE Act and Voter ID Popularity

• 🗳️ The SAVE Act, requiring ID to vote, has overwhelming public support, with 71% of Democrats and the vast majority of Republicans backing it.
• 📈 This makes it one of the most popular bills in recent history, with broad bipartisan appeal across the American populace.

Senate Progress and the "Zombie Filibuster"

• 📊 The SAVE Act has secured 49 Republican co-sponsors, with Susan Collins indicating support, bringing the potential total to 50, enough to survive a motion to proceed.
• ⏳ The main hurdle is securing 60 votes for cloture, which is currently unlikely, leading to the discussion of the "zombie filibuster."
• 🗣️ The traditional filibuster required senators to actually speak (talking filibuster), but modern practice allows opposition without debate, termed the "zombie filibuster."

Restoring the Talking Filibuster

• 🛠️ Senator Lee advocates for restoring the talking filibuster for certain legislation, including the SAVE Act, to require senators to speak if they wish to block a bill.
• 🏛️ This would bring back the original intent of the filibuster as a tool of procedural rights through unlimited debate, making opposition more transparent and demanding.
• 🇺🇸 Lee argues that this is not about eliminating the filibuster but preserving it by restoring its original, more demanding form.

Democratic Opposition and Immigration Concerns

• 🤔 The reason for Democratic opposition in the Senate, despite public support, is questioned, with speculation that the status quo benefits them.
• 🛂 Concerns are raised about illegal immigration and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which may allow individuals to register to vote by simply checking a box, without verifying citizenship.
• 💰 It is suggested that Democrats may be reluctant to give up this potential source of votes, especially given the high numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country.

Executive Orders vs. Legislation

• ⚡ While the President might consider an executive order on voter ID, Senator Lee emphasizes the need for the SAVE Act to be enshrined in law (statute).
• ⚖️ A law is more durable than an executive order, making it harder for subsequent administrations to undo and less susceptible to litigation.

Next Steps and Urgency

• 🗓️ Senator Lee has been advocating for the SAVE Act to be brought to the floor, ideally starting soon after the State of the Union address.
• ⚠️ A recent recess and the separate handling of Homeland Security funding have delayed progress, but the urgency to address election security vulnerabilities remains high.
• 💪 Lee believes that with strong, unified support from Senate Republicans, the SAVE Act can be passed by restoring the talking filibuster, even if it takes a few days or weeks.