Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered a forceful message to President Donald Trump on Wednesday that the SAVE America Act “ain’t passing.”
“Mr. President, the SAVE Act ain’t passing. It ain’t passing in the Senate, it ain’t passing the Democrats, and it ain’t passing in the courts,” Schumer said.
The Senate minority leader’s comments come as Trump pushes Republicans to pass his election legislation. But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) argues Republicans do not have enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, but need 60 votes to pass the SAVE America Act, meaning they need Democratic support to pass the sweeping election legislation.
As Schumer reminded his Republican colleagues, Democrats remain firm in opposing the legislation and not giving Republicans the necessary votes to pass the bill.
Because Republicans can’t reach the 60-vote threshold, Trump and some GOP lawmakers are calling to end the chamber’s filibuster rule and move to a simple majority as the baseline for passing legislation.
However, Republicans also lack the necessary support to end the filibuster, with many in the party opposing such efforts. Thune argues he lacks the votes in the Senate GOP conference needed to abolish the filibuster.
Schumer told Republicans to “give up” on the SAVE America Act.
“It’s been rejected over and over again,” Schumer said. “I’d say to Mike Lee, it’s not happening, so give up on that and start doing the real work.”
Trump has demanded that Republicans pass the SAVE America Act, and Republicans are answering the call.
On Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled a $95 million reconciliation package including two legislative priorities: the White House’s military supplemental request and the SAVE America Act.
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Schumer pushed back on claims that Democrats “want a shutdown,” arguing that Republicans are actually the party that is pursuing a shutdown in order to pass the SAVE America Act, pointing to some pushing for the end of the filibuster.
“Republicans have been trying to say we want a shutdown. We don’t. We’ve been fighting it, but Trump pulled the rug out from under them when he said, ‘Republicans have to terminate the filibuster, or we’ll have a shutdown in September,’” Schumer said.