Sen. Thune postpones SAVE America Act to prioritize government funding

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that the Senate will first focus on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government, delaying action on the SAVE America Act that House Republicans have advanced as part of a budget reconciliation package. The move aims to prevent a shutdown before the upcoming midterm elections.

Republican leaders expressed mixed reactions. Sen. John Kennedy said he respects Thune’s approach but worries about negotiating with Democrats, while Sen. Katie Britt emphasized the need to secure funding and criticized what she described as Democratic inaction. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise argued that both the reconciliation bill and a continuing resolution could be handled simultaneously, noting that the House had already passed a short-term funding measure.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole said the GOP is open to any solution that averts a shutdown, and Rep. Michael Cloud echoed the sentiment, adding that the Senate will decide its own course. Thune acknowledged the challenge of securing the 50 votes needed for reconciliation, stating, "The priority is funding the government, and that’s what we have to keep our eyes on."

Some Republicans raised procedural concerns about attaching a continuing resolution to the reconciliation bill, warning that mixing mandatory and discretionary spending could be problematic. The Senate continues negotiations with Democrats to craft a funding plan that could attract the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster.