Election Integrity is On the Line – Your Voice is Needed!

By: Lisa Van Houten

Members of Congress have forgotten who they represent and it’s imperative that we remind them.

The SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) not only is perhaps one of the most important pieces of legislation that will help ensure the survival of our Republic, but is also one of the most popular bills in our nation’s history.

The SAVE America Act simply requires that voters provide proof of citizenship and photo ID in order to vote in federal elections.  For years, polling has shown overwhelming support for requiring voter ID – with 83% of all Americans in favor of such commonsense legislation.  Majorities in both parties – 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats – support it.  And despite Democrats using their favorite tactic by claiming that requiring such identification is somehow racist, 82% of Latino Americans, 76% of black Americans, as well as 85% of white Americans are in favor of voter ID requirements.

Rather, it’s Democrat arguments against voter ID that are racist – claiming that minorities are somehow incapable of obtaining ID when one has to show ID for virtually everything today from renting an apartment to buying alcohol.  Dems are again pulling out the tired screed of “Jim Crow 2.0” just as they did when they unsuccessfully tried to stop the state of Georgia from making their elections more secure, yet voter turnout only increased, including among minorities, in Georgia.

The SAVE America Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and in addition to requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship, it would also require states to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls.

The only reason for Democrats to vehemently oppose this legislation – supported by 71% of their own voters – is because they want noncitizens to vote.  In 2016, Dems were so concerned about supposed “foreign interference” in our elections (i.e. the Russian collusion hoax) yet now that we actually have a host of foreign nationals within our borders voting/interfering in our elections, they’re suddenly not so concerned.  There are countless examples like this one.

In addition, implementing election integrity would make it much harder for Democrats to continue their vote harvesting schemes and voter registration fraud, padding the voter rolls with fraudulent names and addresses and non-citizens.  It’s no surprise that the corrupt state of Minnesota also tops the list for voter fraud where one registered voter can “vouch” for up to eight unidentified people who can then vote without proving citizenship.  And the reason we need proof of citizenship, is because blue states like Minnesota are giving driver licenses to illegal aliens, which can then be used to register to vote.

The bottom line is, if Democrats oppose the SAVE America Act, it’s because they’re benefiting from election fraud.

So, it’s no surprise that Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to prevent this legislation.  As Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed, “We are going to do everything we can to stop it.”

If only Republicans would show the same passion and grit to pass the SAVE Act! An earlier version of the legislation passed the House nearly a year ago and House Republicans are now on the verge of passing a stronger version, but the Senate has yet to take it up. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said the SAVE Act would come up for a vote “at some point.”

Not only is the SAVE Act stalled from advancing to the Senate floor by RINO Republican Mitch McConnell, chairman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, but the fear is that Majority Leader Thune will stick to business as usual, calling for in essence what will be a performative vote, doomed to fail since Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to end debate and pass the bill.  We need principled conservatives, not squishy Republicans and swamp members.  (Where’s Jimmy Stewart when we need him?)

The solution is to implement a “talking filibuster.”  This is how the Senate historically operated.  The Senate considers itself the more “deliberative body” of the legislative branch, but they rarely actually deliberate.  A talking filibuster would force Democrats to stand and speak – publicly arguing why they are opposed to election integrity legislation which 83% of Americans want.  The optics alone would be disastrous for Democrats.  In using a talking filibuster, Senate rules prohibit debate from going on indefinitely, which would then allow the passage of the SAVE Act with just 51 votes.  As the Daily Signal explains: “The idea of a talking filibuster is to enforce Rule 19 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which states, ‘No Senator shall speak more than twice upon any one question in debate on the same legislative day without leave of the Senate.’

“Under the rule, Senate Republicans would refuse to adjourn and would force Democrats to talk in order to filibuster the bill. Once the Democrats ran out of speeches on the question of the bill, it would come to a vote and pass by a simple majority.”

The talking filibuster does not change Senate rules, nor does it “nuke” the filibuster.

Rachel Bovard at The Federalist has an excellent explanation well worth reading of how this procedure would work and why it’s a win-win for Republicans.  Center for Renewing America also has a very informative piece, which also delves into the history of the filibuster.

House Republicans, conservative Senators such as Rick Scott and Mike Lee, and nearly one hundred conservative leaders are urging John Thune to commit to using the talking filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act and get his Republican caucus on board to support it. To do that, Republicans will actually have to show some backbone and be willing to work more than two and a half days a week.

Yet Thune is already showing reticence – claiming there are “implications and ramifications” to using the talking filibuster and that it could hold up other legislation.  Yet what other legislation could be more important than securing our nation’s elections?  The implications and ramifications for our nation of not doing so will be detrimental.  If election integrity continues to be undermined, we will never have a fair election.

Chuck Schumer said that his fellow Democrats are going to do everything they can to stop it.

Senator Majority Leader Thune needs to hear from voters that we expect him to do everything he can to pass it!  Not “at some point,” but now.

He needs to feel pressure from tens of thousands of grassroots Americans that it is imperative that the SAVE America Act must be passed.

Contact Senate Majority Thune, urging him to restore the traditional talking filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act.

Email Senator Thune through his chief of staff at: geoff_antell@thune.senate.gov

Call Senator Thune’s office directly at: 202-224-2321 or toll-free at: 1-866-850-3855

Or write:

Senator John Thune
United States Senate SD-511
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 228-5429

In addition, contact your U.S. Senators, urging them to support and pass the SAVE America Act by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121.

 

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