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Political Bullying | Requires Action [It's sad that Trump might have to declare a national emergency] |
To Be Determined | |
 Published by The Galveston County Daily NewsPublished: August 25, 2026 | |||
| Under the guise of the Senate filibuster 60 vote rule Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has refused to allow passage of legislation requiring photo IDs, proof of citizenship, and significant restrictions for absentee voting in Federal elections. He refuses to bring up this legislation (the SAVE Act) even when roughly eight in ten Americans want it. Then he allows the Senate the month of August off, instead of remaining in session, bringing the measure to the floor, and requiring filibusters to be “in person” -- in which dissenting members are required to personally speak on the floor -- a procedure Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) have been calling for. Recent polls tell us requiring a photo ID to register and to vote has bipartisan support. A Fox News poll shows 95% of Republicans and 83% of independent voters support voter ID mandates. Democrat support comes in at 72% to register and 62% to vote. Texas already has a photo ID requirement to vote but not to register. Nor does Texas have laws that require proof of citizenship in order to register. With recent disclosures of non-citizens registering to vote [6,600 in New Jersey which may be the tip of the iceberg] and states like California sending absentee ballots to every registered voter without verifying who is actually casting these ballots, it’s evident that something needs to be done in order to ensure integrity of our elections. One option is for the President to declare a “national emergency” and require photo IDs to vote in federal elections. Can he legally do this? Yes, he can. If Congress disagrees, they can pass a “joint resolution” vetoing his declaration. However, the House, which has passed the SAVE Act several times, might not support such a resolution. Regardless, a “joint resolution” requires Presidential concurrence, which wouldn’t be forthcoming. He’d veto any such measure forcing a two-thirds majority vote in both houses to override his veto. Those votes don’t exist. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled in INS vs. Chadha that “legislative vetoes” by “concurrent resolutions” are unconstitutional because they violated constitutional rules of bicameralism. This decision invalidated a provision in the National Emergencies Act that allowed Congress to cancel a president’s national emergency declaration by using a simple “concurrent resolution” (which doesn’t require presidential agreement). The high court required presidential approval. Without it, a Congressional veto fails. So, in the absence the obstructionist Senate Majority Leader taking action, President Trump could force all fifty states to require a photo ID in order to vote. He could also stop states from sending absentee ballots to all registered voters and impose Texas-like requirements where voters must request an absentee ballot but only if they are ill, disabled, or absence from their residence during the early voting and election day periods. Time will tell if the president takes such an action, but it’s a sad state of affairs that this work around is needed because of a lack of real Senate leadership; especially for a measure supported by the majority of Americans. |
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About the Authors/Columnists 2026 Bill and Mark have written over 300 guest columns and editorials together over the last ten years for numerous publications across the country and they continue to do so. Bill lives in Texas and Mark in Idaho. Both gentlemen ran against each other in the 2012 Republican Primary for Texas Congressional District 14. Since then they have become close friends and colleagues | |||
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  Feedback fom a retired teacher living in PA:I hope that the President makes this declaration of a “national emergency” and require photo IDs to vote in federal election! I am tired of the non-citizens being able to vote in our nation and also having other privileges like vehicle licences! Reading that TX doesn't require photo IDs for registering to vote seems so odd to me! When we moved to PA, we found out that by just getting your license, one gets automatically registered to vote. With all the voter fraud in PA and lack of Voter ID, I am sure that we have illegals voting like all over the US. The SAVE Act is a "no brainer" and definitely has Bi-Partisan support. John Thune has been such a disappointment, and I have no respect or trust in his leadership in the Senate. As always, I have learned a lot about our government and how it works, from this article. I often have to research/look up terms, so that I know what you two are referring to. Specific information that you two share and put in such a logical way is quite helpful for me. Thank you for all your work. Thank you for shining a light on this situation. I am interested in the SAVE Act, but I will definately be more mindful of the proceedings now. Feedback from a Galveston County Fisheman:I believe it is imperative, in order to save our republic, that, at any and all costs, we establish solidly that ONLY US citizens have an avenue to vote. Meanwhile, Thune needs to go the way of Cornyn. There’s two dozen other non-conservative RINOs that also need to be pushed off the government teat. Feedback from a retired Episcopal Priest:
Given Thunes idiocy on this whole issue, I would be surprised if POTUS did NOT act as you suggest. My hope is that Kristi Noem will run for Thunes position in SD, win and take his seat.
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