“Very carefully structured based upon incentive, mostly grant money,” Thune said.
Thune acknowledged that passing the bill via procedural shortcuts remains unlikely without major structural adjustments.
“So, you know, we're gonna do everything we can to move that forward,” he said.
Thune stressed that vote counts remain insufficient.
“But as I told you before, the math on that hasn't changed yet.
It's still likely to be a 60-vote exercise, even if it's done with a budget resolution,” he said.
President Donald Trump posted on social media, calling on Senate Republicans to use budget resolution proceedings to pass key policy items before the recess.
“As much of the SAVE AMERICA ACT as possible,” Trump said.
Trump stated that Republican voters expect Congress to deliver on key legislative promises.
“Our voters will be extremely happy — And even impressed,” he said.
Lawmakers working on reconciliation options noted that parliamentary clearance remains uncertain.
Sen.
John Kennedy of Louisiana said, “I can't guarantee it, but I consider it to be a credible argument.”
Kennedy emphasized that alternative legislative avenues outside of budget reconciliation would fail.
“And I will try to do that, and I will try to, at the right time, bring my colleagues, and, more importantly, the parliamentarian, along.
But if we don't do it through reconciliation, through the House reconciliation, we won't get it done,” he said.
Kennedy assessed the chance of parliamentary approval as a close call.
“It's at least a 50/50 shot,” he said.
Opposing Republicans warned that pushing major election law changes right before the 2026 midterms creates administrative hurdles and lacks necessary majority support.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the effort “dead.”
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“Unless they do the work to get to the 60 votes, they know it's dead, and so all this is theater,” Tillis said.
