SAVE Act Gains Momentum As Key Republican Flips Vote

The vote immediately reignited debate among conservatives about Senate rules and whether Republican leadership should pursue procedural reforms to advance the legislation

Under current Senate rules, most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

Because every Senate Democrat opposed the SAVE America Act, the measure fell well short of that threshold despite receiving majority support.

Conservatives have increasingly focused their criticism on what they call the “Zombie Filibuster,” a modern version of the filibuster that allows senators to block legislation without physically holding the Senate floor

Supporters of reform argue that requiring senators to conduct an old-fashioned talking filibuster would dramatically change the political dynamics surrounding legislation like the SAVE America Act.

Under a traditional talking filibuster, opponents would be forced to continuously hold the floor and defend their position publicly.