The Senate is abuzz this week with debate over the SAVE America Act (S. 1383). House Republicans passed the measure in February to ensure that future federal elections are fair. The bill requires proof of citizenship to register and proof of identification to cast a ballot at the polls. The multiple surveys conducted on this issue show that over 80% of Americans support this measure, which is encouraging. Yet all but one Democrat in the House opposed the bill, and nearly all Senate Democrats are blocking a final vote. Republicans are working smarter and harder to hold them accountable for their lack of support.
The misinformation about the SAVE America Act has been an intentional sabotage of our election process. First, Democrats told us that minorities would be suppressed at the polls because of their inability to obtain identification or proof of citizenship. Many minorities are offended at this suggestion. Every United States citizen is issued a birth certificate, and replacements are easy to obtain. Not only are minorities fully capable of getting an ID, but they are largely supportive of this measure with polling showing 64% in favor. In fact, after the state of Georgia strengthened its voter ID laws, it saw record turnout among minority voters at the polls.
Once their arguments regarding minorities failed, they moved on to women. They claim a problem arises when women change their surnames after getting married or divorced. Their last name may not match the name on their birth certificate, which would, as Democrats would say, render women “silenced in our democracy.” This is absurd. While it does require additional documentation, like a marriage certificate or court order, this is the same process required for a driver’s license or passport. Once again, women are fully capable of obtaining the needed documents to vote.
Perhaps the most common misconception is that noncitizen voting rarely happens. This type of voter fraud is already illegal, so why need another redundant law? In reality, thousands of noncitizens have already been identified on voter rolls across our nation. Those who may have voted in elections are hard to track because there is no systematic way to identify these votes once they are registered. The SAVE America Act offers federal resources to states to check the citizenship of their voters and adds the safeguard of voter ID.
Tea Party Patriots published a list debunking the myths of the SAVE America Act. You can find that here.
After much discussion on whether to engage in a “talking” filibuster, Senate Leadership found that not enough Republicans were willing to participate in the exhaustive task of keeping Democrats on the floor to debate the merits of the bill. Instead, they have employed an alternative procedure which Eagle Forum’s President Kris Ullman suggested in an op-ed in Conservative HQ:
Sen. Thune should not file cloture for a week or two. There is no reason why a cloture petition needs to be filed right away. There are two ways to limit debate – by filing cloture or if both sides agree to do so by Unanimous Consent (UC). Every day the GOP leadership should try to get a UC from Dems to limit debate so that a final vote can occur. Broadcast their refusal to engage. Keep a tally.
She explains that this method would “allow both sides to hold a real debate on the legislation and let Americans weigh in on what they see and hear.” The American people have become so disenfranchised with “back-room deals” and closed-door discussions that they are frustrated with both political parties. It’s time that our Senators stand on the Senate floor and defend their vote with full transparency. Or in simple terms, it’s time for the Senate to legislate! The process being used on the SAVE America Act is true legislating and was the norm in the Senate before the Obama years, when filing cloture became the norm instead of a last-ditch effort to move bills.
On Wednesday, 51 Republican Senators voted to proceed to consideration of the SAVE America Act, kicking off the debate. It didn’t take long for Democrats to start backing down. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters on Wednesday that Democrats are not opposed to voter ID at the polls. Their lies were just for show. For a Democrat, especially their leader in the Senate, to say the truth out loud means that pressure from the grassroots is already working.
Additionally, they will take votes on three amendments to add to the SAVE America Act. These have been requested from the President and have overwhelming support from the American people. One will limit mail-in ballots to certain circumstances such as military service overseas, physical disability, verified travel, or “another hardship that would make in-person voting unreasonable or impracticable.” Another will ban the chemical and surgical genital mutilation of minors and provide a civil right of action for those who are victims of these barbaric “treatments” like detransitioner Chloe Cole. The last amendment will amend Title X to prohibit males from playing on female sports teams. Saving America not only means saving our elections but also saving women and children.
Eagle Forum’s grassroots activists have been making their voices heard already. You can make your voice heard to your Republican and Democratic Senators by urging them to vote for the SAVE America Act on our website here. The debate process can take weeks, so we encourage you to send multiple emails to your Senators to provide support in holding the line. For those of you with Democrat Senators, your help is especially important! Call your Senators TODAY – the Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.