Source: Fortune
Summary
US Senators have ended a standoff over President Donald Trump’s demands to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill, known as the SAVE America Act, before the summer recess. Despite Trump’s pressure, the Senate was unable to advance the bill, which lacks enough support from Republicans and Democrats. Instead, Republican senators plan to try again to approve elements of the voting bill as part of a broader GOP budget package in September. The Senate did manage to pass other Trump priorities, including a Russian sanctions package and a bipartisan package to fund the government into December.
Our Reading
The announcement sounds familiar.
President Trump’s influence on the Senate is evident in the standoff over the SAVE America Act. Trump’s demands to pass the bill before the summer recess were unsuccessful, but his pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other Republicans is a clear indication of his reach into the legislative branch. The decision to try again in September as part of a broader budget package is a strategic move, but its success is uncertain. The Senate’s inability to advance the bill highlights the political reality of the slim GOP majority and the need for bipartisan support.
The numbers tell one story, but the real story is how Trump is trying to master the Senate.
Author: Evan Null
