Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins was among the four Republicans to vote against a proposal to attach a version of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to a $70 billion funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (CBP).
Later in the day Friday, the Senate voted 52-47 in support of the funding without receiving any Democratic support.
The House is not expected to consider this spending package until next week at the soonest.
Earlier this year, lawmakers partially funded DHS but deliberately excluded ICE and CBP after they failed to garner enough support to advance.
[RELATED: Senate Approves Partial DHS Funding Bill for TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA, Excludes ICE and CBP]
Among the many amendments to the ICE and CBP funding package that were rejected by the Senate Friday was the proposal to include a version of the SAVE America Act as part of the legislation.
The SAVE Act was first put forward in 2024 by a large group of Republican lawmakers with the purpose of protecting the integrity of U.S. elections in light of the surge in illegal immigration.
Under the proposed law, those seeking voter registration would need to provide “documentary proof of United States citizenship,” such as a REAL ID compliant form of identification, passport, military ID, or a government-issued photo ID “showing that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.”
Other government-issued photo IDs may be used if presented in conjunction with another qualifying document, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
Several versions of this bill have been considered, however, meaning that each one takes a slightly different approach to achieving the measure’s stated goals.
[RELATED: House GOP Balks at Linking SAVE Act to Government Funding Bill]
This is not the first time that lawmakers have pushed back on including a version of the SAVE Act as part of a broader spending bill.
In September of 2024, the possibility of including the measure as part of a major spending package was discussed but ultimately did not come to fruition.
The version of the package that included language from the SAVE Act was rejected by both Democrats and Republicans.
While those on the left were united in their opposition to the package, a number of those on the right joined them over concerns related to the use of a stop-gap measure itself and its inclusion of “excessive spending.”
[RELATED: EXCLUSIVE — Susan Collins Backs SAVE AMERICA ACT — But Won’t Break Filibuster]
Collins has previously said in an exclusive comment to the Maine Wire earlier this year that she supports the House-passed version of the SAVE Act, saying the revised bill strikes the right balance between election security and voter access.
She said that she will back the version of the SAVE Act that cleared the House, calling it a “simple reform” aimed at strengthening confidence in federal elections.
“The law is clear that in this country only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections,” she said. “In addition, having people provide an ID at the polls, just as they have to do before boarding an airplane, checking into a hotel, or buying an alcoholic beverage, is a simple reform that will improve the security of our federal elections and will help give people more confidence in the results.”
Allowing people to vote without having to present some form of identity and proof of citizenship is INSANITY .
THAT is why Democrats and RINOs oppose it .
Democrats and RINOs will justify ANYTHING that helps them attain victory .
Maine voters need to wake TF up .
LouiseWoods is actually promoting Susan Commie Collin’s in the Susan Commie Collin’s thread about her 10,000 votes. Here it turns course.
LouiseWoods needs to shut TFU.
If there were another option, I would not cast my vote for her.
Collins is a lying (B)witch. She claims to be for voter ID but blocks it at every opportunity for one B.S. reason or another. Yet what are our options? Mills the commie, no bid contract/”new mainers” pandering thief or Platner the woman abusing, perv., nazi? I am sick and tired of holding my nose and voting for this RINO every six years for five terms going on six. Hey, Susan what happened to your pledge to only serve TWO terms? The real fault lies with the maine reDUMBlican party, that discourages any primary of her and throws roadblocks in the way of those with the audacity to try.
What is wrong with the Senator? This is a national security question. PASS THE SAVE ACT!
The problem is, they try and tie other things together in one bill !! Its high time they put up a bill, vote, and move on to the next one !!! Wtf else do they have to do !? This is exactly what their supposed to do!!!!!! Congress sucks ass!!! The people are over this shit!
I am done with Susan Collins. Everytime we need her to come thru she drops the ball and screws Mainers and the American people. I have held my nose many times to vote for her, that is now over. Enjoy retirement you traitor.
My family has lived in Maine for countless generations, and sadly I have watched Maine become a place with values my ancestors would not recognize. I believe that now even many normal Democrats realize that neither Platner nor Mills should be allowed to represent us in the United States Senate. Neither, in my opinion, is qualified to be legislating the future of America for our children and grandchildren. Mainers already have witnessed how Mills’ poor judgment has devastated our state, and Platner’s character flaws and reckless behavior are highlighted daily in the national news. Collins has served our state as a Republican since 1997 because she has mastered the art of getting elected as a conservative in a state that has been infested with radicals. Otherwise, there would not be a single Republican Senator from New England on the Hill. Yes, Collins is a RINO; however, could another Republican win in Maine without being a RINO as well? And would an unfamiliar RINO stand a chance with the Democrats in Maine? Collins has political seniority that is priceless. For the sake of our state and our nation, Susan Collins needs to retain her Senate seat. By the way, subscribe to her weekly newsletter and you will see that she holds dear a lot of the “old Maine” values. Let’s not put ourselves in a position where “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”
Our elections have become a choice between the lesser of two evils. Just remember, the lesser of two evils, is still evil…….
More house cleaning to do, Congress, Appointed Judges,NGO’s drained and snuffed for good…Stop the mass siphoning of funds…..the back door payouts and deals that are sell outs for a buck!
Got to wonder what the democrats promised her in exchange for this vote, or as I suspect it’s a massive case of TDS. Either way, Collins has always been a RINO! She does not realize this is the wrong time of the voting season to go against what 90% of the population want,,,secured voting.
If I hear Ray Richardson say, “She does her homework” one more time, I’m never listening to his radio show again.
At this point, Platner is looking good compared to Suzy.
Get it over and send Maine down the tubes.
That’s what Southern Maine wants.
Susan Collins is the least worst candidate. She should be fighting for the SAVE Act, the replacement of Thune, and the death of the filibuster!
I can only say what my mom always said to me when I did something really, really stupid “what the hell were you thinking?”
I have never voted for any democrat, but that doesn’t mean I have to vote for a Republican.
Susan Collins has betrayed me, and I’m not convinced that she deserves my vote.
Voting against America’s best interest is a democrat thing, and when a Republican does it, it sickens me.
It’s always the same bunch of clown Republicans who let their constituents down time and time again. This is an 85% issue that Democrats even support so there is no good reason not to vote for it. Without a doubt someone is paying her for her vote.
Everybody get off your booty and email her. Tell HER how you feel about her rino behavior. She can’t afford to lose a vote, and that’s the risk now. No vote is one for platterpus.
She makes it so difficult to vote for her.
Talk about holding your nose. An independent could blow this race wide open.
Costs too much to SAVE America and our voting system — ?