Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) used a Friday appearance on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” to sharply criticize the U.S. Senate, taking particular aim at the chamber’s reliance on the filibuster.
Van Drew said he was “angry” over the Senate’s handling of the SAVE America Act and called it “shameful” that Democrats have been able to block the measure through a filibuster.
Fox Business Network’s Jackie DeAngelis raised the issue by pointing to the SAVE America Act, saying it would require people registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship and suggesting it “might have helped prevent the situation in New Jersey.” She noted that the bill has passed the House more than once but has been stalled in the Senate since February, then asked Van Drew whether Congress could still move it to the president’s desk before year’s end and if the legislation had a realistic chance.
“It’s still got a realistic chance,” Van Drew responded. “I’m profoundly disappointed in the Senate, and I believe there are a lot of voters that the senators are responsible to serve that are disappointed too. This is not complicated. If you want to vote in an American election, you must be an American, and you show ID. And you’ve heard all the arguments we all have, and it’s true. If you go into a liquor store, if you go into a federal building, if you buy a firearm, I can give you the list. It’s as long as your arm, and essentially saying you need to have ID to do certain things in this world. That’s not voter suppression. That is making sure we’re being responsible and that Americans are voting in American elections.”
Van Drew then broadened his criticism to the Senate’s filibuster rules. “The filibuster has been harmful,” he said. “The filibuster in the Senate, filibuster was originally meant to be something that would extend and magnify debate. That has now become, you basically almost need a super majority to get anything done. What’s the good of a majority then? It’s obstructionist, it’s harmful, it doesn’t make sense. And I know the senators, some of them love it, but it’s contrary to the will of the American public. It’s shameful. They’ve got to get this done. We’ve done it twice. We’ll do it a third time. If they don’t get the damn thing done, Americans are going to be angry, and they should be. I’m angry.”
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