With fewer than 100 days remaining before voters head to the polls in the midterm elections, pressure is growing inside the Republican Party to move more of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda across the finish line.One Republican senator is now publicly urging Senate leadership to pick up the pace, arguing that time is running short to deliver on several key priorities before lawmakers leave Washington for the campaign season.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to move more aggressively in advancing President Trump’s agenda, saying he believes Republicans should stop waiting for Democratic cooperation and begin bringing major legislation to the Senate floor.
Speaking on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Kennedy praised Thune personally but argued the Senate leader has been too cautious.
“Look, I mean no disrespect. I love John Thune. He’s my leader. He’s got a big brain. He’s better looking than me, but I think he’s just being too cautious,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy argued that negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are unlikely to produce an agreement on government funding.
“I think he’s going to shut down government,” Kennedy predicted, referring to Schumer.
Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the federal government before a partial shutdown would begin.
The Senate is scheduled to remain in session through Aug. 7 before taking a five-week recess and returning in mid-September.
Kennedy said Republicans should use the remaining legislative days to advance several major pieces of legislation supported by President Trump.
Among those priorities, Kennedy listed the House budget resolution, additional defense funding, assistance for farmers, the cryptocurrency market structure bill and legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia.
He also argued that sanctions targeting Iran should be added to the Russia sanctions package named in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Perhaps Kennedy’s strongest push centered on the SAVE America Act, legislation backed by President Trump that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections and would establish additional voter identification requirements.
Republicans have repeatedly attempted to bring the bill up for consideration in the Senate, but Democrats have blocked those efforts.
Kennedy argued the proposal is important for maintaining confidence in federal elections.
“In my opinion, for both sides to have credibility in our elections, we need to do two things and only two things,” Kennedy said.
He said voters should prove they are eligible before registering and that election results should generally be known on Election Day or shortly afterward.
“I think we can pass it … but we’re not going to know if we don’t try,” Kennedy added.
His comments came only days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump’s “patience is running out” with the pace of Senate action.
President Trump also publicly encouraged supporters to contact Thune during a rally in Georgia, urging Republicans to move his legislative priorities through the Senate.
Despite pressure from conservatives, Thune has acknowledged the procedural challenges facing many Republican priorities.
Because most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, Republicans would need Democratic support for bills such as the SAVE America Act under normal Senate rules.
Earlier this month, Thune said Republicans are exploring whether portions of the legislation could potentially qualify for passage through the budget reconciliation process, which allows certain fiscal measures to pass with a simple majority.
He suggested one possible approach could involve providing financial incentives for states that adopt voter identification requirements, though he emphasized that any proposal would have to comply with Senate budget rules, The New York Post reported.
With Congress preparing for its August recess and the Sept. 30 government funding deadline approaching, Republican leaders face increasing pressure from both the White House and members of their own conference to determine which legislative priorities can realistically be advanced before lawmakers turn their full attention to the upcoming midterm elections.