Sen. Josh Hawley criticized four Republican colleagues for voting against adding a voter identification bill to a $70 billion budget reconciliation package.
Senators 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 the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which was offered as an amendment by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The amendment fell 12 votes short of the 60-vote threshold required for passage.
What Hawley Said
“I guess it’s frustration,” Hawley told Fox News Digital when discussing the failed vote. “Voter ID is the most popular thing out there. People want their elections to be safe, they want them to be fair. And to me, you can’t explain it to me, why you wouldn’t vote for voter ID,” he added.
Hawley noted that Missouri has required voter identification for years after state voters included the measure in the state constitution. He expressed bewilderment at Republican opposition to legislation with widespread public backing.
The Vote Breakdown
The Senate held two attempts to attach the SAVE America Act during a marathon vote-a-rama on the GOP’s immigration enforcement package. Graham’s amendment included additional provisions such as a ban on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, a priority for President Donald Trump.
A separate amendment offered by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah secured 50 Republican votes after Collins switched positions and backed the original version of the legislation. Lee noted on X that with Vice President JD Vance available to cast a tie-breaking vote, the measure would have sufficient support to pass.
What’s Next
“That means that 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. Some Senate Republicans have urged Majority Leader John Thune to employ a talking filibuster strategy to advance the bill with a simple majority vote.
Senate Republicans previously mounted a lengthy floor effort in March to force debate on the SAVE America Act. Momentum for the legislation has declined considerably since that earlier push.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Political staff contributed to this report.
