Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told President Donald Trump on Wednesday that there is little to no chance of his “SAVE America Act” becoming law. In an interview with Politico’s “On The Road,” Cramer was asked why more Republicans do not tell the president he lacks the votes to pass the legislation through Congress.
Cramer: Filibuster Elimination Has Zero Chance
“I think he knows the votes aren’t there for it, unless we blow up the filibuster, that’s the bigger philosophical question,” Cramer said. When host Jonathan Martin asked, “Is there any chance of that happening?” Cramer replied, “There’s zero chance of that happening for very good reasons.”
The senator added that he regrets that many of his colleagues who also oppose eliminating the filibuster refuse to say it publicly, creating a false impression that Trump is only a handful of votes away from passing the legislation.
Trump's Fixation on the SAVE Act
Trump has refused to abandon the bill, claiming it is essential for securing elections ahead of the midterms. Officially known as the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act,” the legislation would require all Americans to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a photo ID at the time of voting.
Potential Disenfranchisement and Voter Fraud Claims
According to analysis by the Bipartisan Policy Center, the bill could disenfranchise many eligible voters who lack access to documents like birth certificates or passports. Trump contends the legislation is necessary to combat voter fraud, but studies have consistently found voter fraud to be extremely rare.
Cramer’s comments highlight a significant divide within the GOP over the filibuster and election security measures.
