Trump Threatens Thune Over $95 Billion Bill as 3 GOP No Votes Stall SAVE Act
Updated
Updated · Democracy Docket · Jul 30
Trump Threatens Thune Over $95 Billion Bill as 3 GOP No Votes Stall SAVE Act
3 articles · Updated · Democracy Docket · Jul 30
Summary
Trump escalated his pressure campaign Wednesday by suggesting John Thune may not be fit to lead Senate Republicans if he keeps blocking the SAVE America Act.
The threat comes as Senate Republicans resist folding SAVE provisions into a $95 billion reconciliation framework the House passed last week, with Thune saying a third reconciliation bill is a nonstarter.
Three Republican senators already appear opposed — Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis and Susan Collins — and Mitch McConnell’s absence leaves the GOP with only 52 votes, enough for defections to sink the plan.
Republicans also warned the White House that Trump’s focus on SAVE could hurt them before the midterms, while election provisions could trigger a politically risky vote-a-rama and may not survive Senate budget rules.
New polls underscored the political drag: Quinnipiac put Trump’s approval at 32%, and CNN found 73% of adults say he is not focused on the country’s most important issues.