Capito signals optimism for legislative progress ahead of August recess
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CHARLESTON -- As the August recess approaches, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Senate Republican leadership is navigating the complexities of the budget reconciliation process and could advance parts of President Donald Trump’s election-related priorities.
Speaking Thursday morning during a briefing with West Virginia reporters from Capitol Hill, Capito said elements of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act could get the 50 votes needed to pass the latest federal budget reconciliation package. But the White House, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives need to work together.
“I don’t want to see us shooting at one another, and that’s been a little bit of what’s been going on here,” said Capito, R-W.Va. “I think the best way for us to move forward is as a united front, and that’s what you’re going to see here in the next several days. Now, whether the effort will be successful or not still remains to be seen, but I definitely see glimmers of optimism.”
Among other things, the SAVE America Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, in order to register to vote. Those wishing to register would need to bring their documents in person to a county clerk's office instead of registering through the mail or online. The bill would also put in place a national requirement for voters to show photo IDs in order to vote.
The U.S. House of Representatives included the SAVE America Act in the latest budget reconciliation package, a $95 billion bill that would provide needed Pentagon funding as the war with Iran rages on, and agriculture dollars. Reconciliation allows the Senate to pass funding bills by a simple 51-vote majority, avoiding the usual 60 votes needed to end debate to pass bills.
It remains to be seen how much of the SAVE America Act will survive review by the Senate parliamentarian, who could decide parts of it have no fiscal effect and should be removed -- a process called the Byrd Rule named for the late West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Also, Senate GOP leadership has whipped votes for a standalone SAVE America Act and does not have 50 votes within the caucus. But Capito said certain parts could get to 50 votes.
“The important thing here to note is we do have 50 votes for the two major elements for the SAVE America Act. That’s voter ID and that’s proof of citizenship,” Capito said. “Now, I’m in favor of the entire bill, but those two elements have 50 votes … and it should have more because I would think a lot of Democrat states require voter ID as we do in West Virginia.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has come under criticism by Trump and House Republican leadership for not whipping votes within the Senate Republican caucus for the SAVE America Act and the reconciliation package. In social media posts, Trump has called on Thune to end the upcoming recess scheduled for a week from Friday to pass the reconciliation bill or even end the 60-vote cloture rule and throw out the Senate’s filibuster tradition. Capito said Thune is trying to meet Trump halfway.
“What we are trying to put together now with Leader Thune and the president and others is a way to put as much of that bill as we possibly can into a reconciliation bill that would only require 50 votes,” Capito said. “We are in the process of doing that. I think we’ve seen some very positive movement. Leader Thune has said he’ll put it on the floor when we get the 50 votes. I think we can achieve that. I won’t say it will be easy.”