U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune led a press conference on March 21 regarding the SAVE America Act, focusing on the ongoing debate over voter identification requirements in American elections.
The discussion is significant as it centers on whether only American citizens should be allowed to vote, an issue that has drawn sharp divisions between Republican and Democratic senators. Thune said the legislation is a matter of common sense and claimed it has strong support among Americans.
“It’s a piece of commonsense legislation that we think is overwhelmingly supported by the American people, and we intend to keep pushing forward and ensure that the American people know whether their senators are for or against ensuring that only American citizens vote in American elections,” Thune said during his remarks.
Thune criticized Democratic senators for what he described as inconsistency regarding photo identification requirements at the polls. He referenced comments from Senate Democratic Leader Schumer about not opposing photo ID, but said Democrats blocked a proposal focused solely on this issue. “And the Democrats not only blocked it – they not only blocked it – but their counterproposal was a piece of legislation that would actually ban, specifically ban, photo ID nationwide,” Thune said.
Thune emphasized that Republicans will continue to highlight these differences throughout the debate. “So as we press forward in this debate, we look forward to continuing to highlight the differences of opinion we have between our colleagues on the Democrat side of the aisle, but to ensure that the American people fully know who is and who is not for ensuring that only citizens, only American citizens, vote in our elections in this country,” he said.
Thune has held several leadership roles in the Senate including majority leader, Republican whip, and conference chairman according to his official website. He serves on committees such as Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Finance according to his official website. Thune grew up in Murdo, South Dakota where an encounter with a congressman inspired his interest in public service according to his official website. He earned degrees from Biola University and the University of South Dakota according to his official website.
Thune concluded by stating: “But … at the end of the day, that’s the vote. That’s the question Democrats here in the Senate are going to have to answer, and we intend to make them do that.”
Thune’s background includes winning historic Senate elections—including one against a sitting party leader—and maintaining a home with his wife Kimberley in Sioux Falls while raising two daughters and six grandchildren according to his official website.
