Republicans plan marathon debate for SAVE America Act

Senate Republicans are planning for days of marathon sessions as they try to put Democrats on defense over their controversial elections bill backed by President Donald Trump.

The strategy, described by two aides granted anonymity to comment on private deliberations, is emerging after GOP leaders signaled they will bring the SAVE America Act to the Senate floor next week.

But it will fall short of the “talking filibuster” that some hard-line conservatives want to force. That’s because leaders are still expected to move to curtail debate at some point by invoking existing Senate rules and setting up a vote at 60-vote margin — meaning it will fail given the opposition from Democrats and even some Republican senators.

Even so, GOP senators are preparing for a lengthy debate that is expected to stretch at least past the end of next week. The strategy could include scheduling overnight sessions and forcing Democrats to stay on the floor to prevent any Republican from calling a final vote on the bill.

Republicans are also preparing amendments that would reflect Trump’s expanded vision for the legislation to include banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports and prohibiting gender-affirming surgery for children.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday that Republicans are also talking through how to address Trump’s broad opposition to mail voting.

Many Republicans represent states that have long offered no-excuse mail voting, something Trump has railed against in recent statements.

“I understand his passion,” Thune said, suggesting Republicans would focus on “ballot harvesting” instead. “We’re working through what that actual proposal might look like and to address what I think is the real problem.”