One key Republican’s extended absence and unclear timetable for return is slowing down several legislative priorities, and could impact President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act in an unexpected way.
Mitch McConnell has released yet another “proof of life” photo that does not really show that he’s alive; it also doesn’t set a hard date for when he’ll come back to Congress.
It comes as Republicans are twisting and contorting Trump’s top election priority into something that could pass the Senate. Though McConnell has voted against the bill before, he would be a key player in crafting what it would look like in the upper chamber.
“That could be an issue,” said Senator Ron Johnson “I think there are a lot of issues.”
That’s because McConnell is chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which will likely be responsible for drafting the version of the SAVE America Act that could pass muster in budget reconciliation, the process that Trump is pushing the GOP to use to pass the bill.
Senate Republican leadership is also privately urging rank-and-file lawmakers and their staffers to throw cold water on the prospect of passing President Donald Trump’s voting restrictions bill anytime soon, according to an internal strategy memo obtained by USA TODAY.
Another loss for Donald Trump.
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