Senate GOP Swing Vote Comes Out In Support Of SAVE Act

Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins came out in support of the House-passed SAVE America Act Friday while drawing a red line on preserving the upper chamber’s filibuster.

Collins said the bill’s altered language requiring photo ID at the polls rather than proof of citizenship was “key” to getting her support, according to The Maine Wire. She also said the filibuster is necessary and added that its elimination would allow a Democrat-led Congress to “pass provisions on anything they want.”

“The law is clear that in this country only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections,” she told the outlet. “In addition, having people provide an ID at the polls, just as they have to do before boarding an airplane, checking into a hotel, or buying an alcoholic beverage, is a simple reform that will improve the security of our federal elections and will help give people more confidence in the results.”

Collins on Wednesday declined to tell the Daily Caller News Foundation how she would vote. The legislation passed the House later that day, 218-213, gaining support from only one Democrat, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar.

Collins, a moderate Republican who frequently breaks from her party, hinged her support for the bill on protecting the Senate rules enforcing a 60-vote threshold. Some Republicans, such as Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, say their Democratic colleagues will abolish the filibuster when they come into power.

However, Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee — the bill’s sponsor in the Senate — and other lawmakers are pushing to use the Senate’s existing rule of a talking filibuster that makes senators actually talk to hold up a bill, only there’s no set clock. Senate rules do not place time frames on speeches, and the procedural tactic could easily last days as senators take up time on the floor debating every amendment and motion of the bill.

The bill is still facing challenges among Republicans as Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she would not vote for the legislation.

Collins is facing a primary election this fall against the Pine Tree State’s incumbent Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and controversy-ridden Democrat Graham Platner.