Rep. Roy Explains How Senate Can Vote on his SAVE America Act Without Changing Any Rules

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX-21) sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to his colleagues in the Senate, explaining how Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) can force a vote on S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, as soon as today without changing any current Senate rules.

Excerpts:

"The commonly accepted 60-vote 'filibuster' threshold to 'shut off debate' is not the ONLY way to force a vote in the Senate - the majority can force opposing Senators to speak. The Majority Leader (Thune) can proceed to the SAVE America Act with a simple majority vote (because we set it up that way in our House passed version) as soon as he chooses.

Under current practice, he would call it up, debate it for a while, and proceed to a 60-vote cloture vote to 'shut off debate.' It would fail, Republicans would shrug and say 'we tried, we need to elect more Republicans.' This is what we call a 'fake' or 'zombie' filibuster. There's no real speaking, just a failure to get 60 votes to 'shut off debate' and then default to a 'quorum call' (no business) rather than having 51 Senators show up to call the question at a simple majority.

BUT, existing Senate rules allow that if a majority (51) is present (a quorum), and seeks a vote on the SAVE America Act (or anything) - it will force a minority (mostly Democrats) to try to stop it by speaking on the floor (a real filibuster) until either side gives out.

There is no need to change any Senate rules ('nuke the filibuster') to do this. If Republicans stick together, and the minority exhaust their opportunities to speak in opposition or give up, a final vote on passage of the bill occurs automatically at a majority threshold."

Read the SAVE America Act here.

Read The Federalist's exclusive story here.