House conservatives revolt over stalled SAVE Act
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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna speaks to reporters as she leaves the Capitol on Feb. 3. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
A bloc of House conservatives is making good on its threat to vote against even routine legislation in a bid to strong-arm the Senate into passing President Trump's signature voting overhaul bill, the SAVE America Act.
Why it matters: Conservative lawmakers are vowing to vote against any bill the Senate sends their way, no matter how bipartisan or minor — and more than three dozen of them did just that Tuesday.
- Forty House Republicans voted against a noncontroversial measure to extend the Small Business Innovation Research program for five years that easily passed the Senate by voice vote earlier this month.
- House Freedom Caucus member Brandon Gill (R-Texas) said the "American people do not care at all" about the small business bill compared with the SAVE Act, adding, "and neither do I."
- Gill's comments sum up the conservatives' view: The protest has little to do with policy substance and everything to do with forcing action on the SAVE Act.
Driving the news: As long as the blockade continues, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will have to rely on Democratic support to pass any bills that originate in the Senate.
- Trump told House Republicans last week that his No. 1 legislative priority for this Congress is to pass the SAVE Act.
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) urged colleagues to oppose any rule advancing Senate legislation — even "must-pass" bills like FISA reauthorization — without the SAVE Act attached.
Zoom out: The Senate is poised for a marathon SAVE Act debate this week, but the measure is all but certain to fail given Democratic opposition.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is under pressure from MAGA-oriented Republicans to employ the "talking filibuster" — or nuke the 60-vote threshold for legislation altogether.
- "A 'we tried' vote on the SAVE America Act is worse than doing nothing. It's a deliberate attempt to mislead the American people," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) posted on X.
Yes, but: The House yesterday passed a Senate bill that will help Holocaust survivors and their families recover artwork confiscated by the Nazis.
- No member asked for a recorded vote.
