Senate GOP Finds Time To Pass Thom Tillis’ Dog Parade But Not The SAVE Act

 

It’s striking and a little frustrating what the Senate can make time for when it wants to. On February 12, the Republican-controlled Senate passed a resolution so that Sen. Thom Tillis could host a dog parade in the Hart Senate building. The measure sailed through by unanimous consent, giving a green light to the “Bipawtisan Doggi Gras Pawrade” on February 25.

Yet when it comes to something far more consequential protecting the integrity of federal elections Senate Republicans seem hesitant to act. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register and voter ID to cast a ballot, passed the House and enjoys the support of 50 Republican senators. Polls show about 80% of Americans, including many Democrats, favor such requirements.

So why the stall? Senate Majority Leader John Thune says there isn’t enough consensus within the Republican conference to attempt a “talking filibuster,” a maneuver that could bypass the usual 60-vote threshold and allow the bill to pass with a simple majority if Republicans remain unified. In other words, there’s a clear path forward, but it requires coordination and a bit of political courage qualities voters hope their senators will show.

Thune insists this method is too complicated and could make it harder to manage other legislative priorities, like keeping the government open. Meanwhile, if the SAVE America Act were brought up under current rules, Democrats could easily block it with a cloture vote, and the effort would be seen as a symbolic gesture rather than a real attempt to secure elections.

The irony isn’t lost: the Senate can come together quickly and unanimously for a dog parade, but when it comes to safeguarding the legitimacy of our elections a responsibility that affects every American it struggles to find the same motivation. Republicans in Congress have a real opportunity to lead on this issue, but leadership requires more than procedural excuses. It requires sticking together on the issues that truly matter.