Sen. Josh Hawley blasted four Republican senators for voting against adding a voter identification measure to a $70 billion budget reconciliation package, questioning their opposition to the legislation.
The Missouri Republican expressed frustration after Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted against a motion to waive procedural objections to an amendment on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina had proposed.
The Failed Vote
Graham’s amendment required 60 votes to advance but fell 12 votes short of that threshold. The measure would have required documented proof of citizenship during voter registration and identification when voting.
Senate rules mandate clearing multiple procedural hurdles to add amendments to budget reconciliation packages unless the chamber unanimously agrees to waive them. The Graham proposal also included a ban on biological males competing in women’s sports, a priority for President Donald Trump.
Republican Frustration
“I just don’t understand it,” Hawley told Fox News Digital about the four Republicans’ opposition. “Voter ID is the most popular thing out there. People want their elections to be safe, they want them to be fair.”
Hawley noted that Missouri has required voter identification for years after voters enshrined the requirement in the state constitution. He characterized the defeat as frustrating given public support for voter ID laws across the country.
A Shifting Vote
During the Senate’s extended vote-a-rama on the immigration enforcement package, Republicans launched two separate attempts to attach the SAVE America Act to the broader bill. A second amendment offered by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah secured 50 Republican votes after Collins reversed her position and backed the original legislation.
Lee stated on social media that with Vice President JD Vance available to cast a tie-breaking vote, the measure would have sufficient support to pass the Senate. “But for the Zombie Filibuster, the House-passed SAVE America Act would now be on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature,” Lee said, referencing the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
Momentum Questions
Senate Republicans mounted a significant floor effort in March to push the SAVE America Act forward, but momentum has diminished substantially since that time. Some Republicans have urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pursue a talking filibuster strategy to advance the measure with a simple majority vote.
This story has been updated. CNN’s team contributed to this report.
